Sa kabila ng paglilinaw ng Department of Tourism (DOT) — sa pamamagitan ng opisyal na pahayag na inilabas nito noong Disyembre 31, 2025 — ay patuloy na nakatatanggap ng mga batikos si Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.
Ito ay nag-ugat sa isang magazine kung saan siya ang nasa cover at nasa background lamang ang isang tourist destination.
Dahil dito, inaakusahan siyang mas ibinebenta ang sarili at hindi ang turismo ng Pilipinas.
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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM STATEMENT
Bilang pagtutuwid, naglabas ng paglilinaw ang ahensiya ng pamahalaan na pinamumunuan ni Frasco.
Ayon sa DOT, hindi konektado sa anumang paraan ang ahensya ng pamahalaan sa magazine na naglabas ng larawan ni Frasco.
Wala rin daw katotohanan ang akusasyong ginamit ng DOT ang pondo ng pamahaalan para sa personal na promotion ng kalihim ng ahensiya.
Mariin ding pinabulaanan ng DOT ang alegasyon ng isang photographer na ang ahensiya raw mismo ang namili at nag-apruba ng litrato ni Frasco na gagamitin sa cover ng magazine.
Ito ang kabuuan ng pahayag na inilabas ng DOT: “The Department of Tourism (DOT) issues this statement to clarify two separate matters arising from false and misleading claims circulating online.
"Philippine Topics is a private publication and not an official magazine of the DOT.
“The Department did not contract, pay, commission, or direct the magazine to produce its cover or feature story. The content, including the selection of images and text, was produced entirely at the magazine's editorial discretion.
“The DOT did not provide any photographs, guidance, or funding for the feature. Philippine Topics independently covered activities related to World Expo Osaka 2025 and used its own coverage in their magazine.
“Any claim suggesting that the Department or the Secretary used public office or resources for personal promotion is false, misleading, and expressly denied.
“With respect to claims made by a certain photographer, the DOT clarifies that it did not supply the photograph in question to Philippine Topics. At no time did the Department instruct, select, approve, or endorse any photograph for the magazine.
“Any implication that the DOT chose or favored the use of an image of the Secretary over destination-focused materials is entirely false and without factual basis.
“The Department views the dissemination of these false claims with serious concern. Misrepresenting official acts, fabricating affiliations, or implying improper use of public resources undermines public trust and misleads the public.
“The Department of Tourism remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the ethical promotion of Philippine tourism, and condemns the propagation of false and misleading information.”
Isang araw matapos lumabas ang pahayag ng DOT, nakipag-ugnayan ang Cabinet Files sa isang taong may alam sa isyung ito.
Ayon sa kanya, nabigyan lamang ng malisya ang social media post ng photographer pero wala itong tinutukoy na tao at lalong hindi niya binanggit ang pangalan ni Frasco.
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