Manila: Philippines Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo resigned on Tuesday amid a scandal over a P60 million (US$1.1 million or Dh4.2 million) advertisement contract awarded to her brother Ben Tulfo by her office.

She becomes the 12th senior government official to resign since President Rodrigo Duterte swept to power in May 2016.

When he campaigned as president, Duterte promised to axe government officials “[over] even a whiff or a whisper of corruption”.

Teo resigned out of “delicadeza” (propriety), but she “still enjoys trust and confidence of the President,” Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said on Tuesday.

“I think she felt that as time went on and that the issue would not die down, it might hurt the President. She wanted to spare everyone further pain, including the President,” said Topacio, adding. “It was a long thought process. Initially, her inclination was to not to resign, but to clear her name (when investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman).”

Critics accused Teo of conflict of interest. The controversy began after the Commission on Audit refused to approve the P60 million payment for her brother, broadcaster Ben Tulfo, whose family-owned company — Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMU) – bagged an advertising production project.

His contract included the airing of the tourism department’s advertisement in his programme, “Kilos Pronto (Fast Action)” on PTV4, a government-owned TV network.

In an earlier response, Teo said the legal bureau of the tourism department reviewed the bidding process for the advertisement project which her brother won, adding she was not responsible for PTV’s decision to place the advertisement (of her office) to the TV program of her brother.

Her brother Tulfo has also decided to return the P60 million to the government to protect his family’s name.

“It should not be seen as admission of guilt,” said lawyer Topacio.

Duterte has fired 11 government chiefs. On January 4, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) administrator Marcial Amaro III, was fired for making 24 foreign trips in 2016 and 2017.

In December 2017, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chair Terry Ridon was fired because of seven foreign trips. Four PCUP commissioners were also fired for being allegedly lazy. They held only two meetings after their appointments.

In October 2017, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) head Jose Vicente Salazar was fired for unilaterally approving – without the approval of other commissioners – the appointment of one ERC commission and a company’s request for the renewal of distribution of utilities.

In May 2017, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Benjamin Reyes was axed for contradicting Duterte’s official number of drug addicts.

In April 2017, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno was fired for irregular purchase of Rosenbauer firetrucks from Austria. Cabinet Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez of the office of the Cabinet Secretary was also fired for overruling National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino’s decision to suspend rice importation.

Last March 2017, former campaign spokesperson and head of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Peter Tiu Lavina resigned from his post because of rumours that he asked money from contractors.