Palace: Tourism chief Teo has Duterte's trust, confidence

MANILA, Philippines – Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo Duterte despite allegations that she brought too many people on trips abroad, Malacañang said Sunday.

 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Teo has already explained her side on the issue, which stemmed from a report by The STAR last Feb. 14. 

 

"All members of the Cabinet have the trust of the President. Secretary Teo has explained that there is no truth to the allegations against her," Roque told radio 

station dzMM.

 

"We maintain that everything is documented. It's not true that she brought with her a make-up artist. She was accompanied by an executive assistant. This will be proven. Since he (assistant) is part of the official delegation, COA (Commission on Audit) will not pay for it if he has no appointment as executive assistant," he added. 

 

Roque reiterated that Teo's foreign trips are justified because it is her job to promote the Philippines to tourists. 

 

"The Number One rule of the President is the travels should be related to one's mandate. As I said before, as Department of Tourism Secretary, it's really the job of Secretary Teo to sell the Philippines. If she does not do it, she would be remiss in her duty," the presidential spokesman said. 

 

Officials have been fired in the past for taking trips that were also related to their mandates. 

Last week, The STAR reported that a make-up artist and office clerks accompanied Teo on her trips to different countries in 2016 and 2017. Teo reportedly traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, US and Canada to attend international travel fairs and to conduct an inventory of foreign offices of her agency. 

 

Drivers, clerks and a utility worker also rode a Star Cruises ship despite a provision of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees that bars state officials and employees from soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, loans or anything of monetary value in the course of their official duties.  

 

The report was published weeks after Duterte fired several officials over excessive trips and imposed a "starvation diet" on the foreign travels of government personnel.

 

Under Duterte's new policy, foreign travels would only be permitted if they are not too costly and if they are expected to bring "substantial benefit" to the country. 

 

Tourism department spokesman Frederick Alegre has described the report as "malicious" and "a malicious and foul attempt to divert attention from the good works and representations" of the Tourism department.

 

According to him, the employee described as make-up artist in the article is Angelito Ucol, an executive assistant at her office. 

 

He has also claimed that no government funds were used during the Star Cruises trips, saying it was a result of a partnership between her agency and the cruise liner. 

The project allowed "marginalized" tourism employees who have been working at the agency for years "to gain actual cruise experience," Alegre said.

 

All trips were in accordance with the Duterte administration's policy because the participation of employees would allow them to better understand their roles in the promotion of the tourism industry, he added.  

 

Alegre also claimed that Teo was not present in any of the international trips highlighted in the report by The STAR. 

 

A follow-up report by The STAR, however, said there are photos on the Tourism department's Facebook page proving that Teo was present during the Philippine Tapestry Gala Night in Canada and the launching of the “Bring Home a Friend campaign” in South Korea last year.