MANILA - Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat confirmed on Wednesday that the P60 million in ad placement fees paid to Ben Tulfo's Bitag Media has not been returned to the department.

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

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“It hasn't been returned to the DOT,” said Puyat on the sidelines of the budget hearing at the House of Representatives committee on appropriations.

Teo, who resigned after state auditors questioned the deal, had 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, initially said last May that the Tulfos agreed to return the P60 million they received from the Department of Tourism after a " family council."

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

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Meanwhile, Puyat declined to comment on President Rodrigo Duterte's dismissal of Nayong Pilipino officials. "Ang Nayong Pilipino kasi is under the DOT but we have no jurisdiction," she said.

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