Ben Tulfo to face raps if he doesn't return P60-M, says Romulo-Puyat

MANILA - Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Wednesday said Ben Tulfo may face charges before the Office of the Ombudsman if he fails to return the P60 million in ad placement fees paid to Tulfo's Bitag Media.

State auditors earlier flagged the payment for "possible conflict of interest" because former tourism chief Wanda Teo is Tulfo's sister.

“As I know, if they do not pay in 6 months, it will go to the Ombudsman,” Puyat told the House Committee on Appropriations during the budget hearing of the tourism department.

“It will be the COA [Commission on Audit] that will forward to the Ombudsman?” Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano asked.

“Yes,” Puyat replied.

Teo, who resigned after state auditors questioned the deal, has maintained that there was no conflict of interest in the deal where funds from the government agency she headed went to her brother's company.

Her counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, said last May that the Tulfos agreed to return the P60 million they received from the Department of Tourism after a " family council."

• Tulfos to return P60-M ad money; tourism chief's husband to quit TIEZA

But in July, Ben Tulfo said he will not return the money, "even if the eyes of those urging them to do so turn white," stressing the transaction was aboveboard.

• Ben Tulfo won't return P60-M ad payment: 'Mamuti na mga mata niyo!'

Following the controversy, Puyat said she has decided to engage the services of a media buying agency.

“Para wala nang discretion ang department, we will be bidding out [through] a media-buying agency. Based on their study, sila ang mamimili kung saan ilalagay yung commercials,” Puyat told reporters.