Cesar Montano thanks Duterte in resignation letter

President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted Cesar Montano's resignation from his post as chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board, Secretary Bong Go has said.

LOOK: Cesar Montano’s resignation letter (Photo c/o SAP Bong Go). SAP Bong Go says Pres. Duterte has accepted it @gmanews pic.twitter.com/r4515g8oBV

— Joseph Morong (@Joseph_Morong) May 21, 2018

Montano's letter showed that his was a courtesy resignation, the same that the new Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat has asked from department officials so she could have a free rein on hiring her own set of executives.

"I am truly grateful for the trust and opportunity you have bestowed upon me to serve our country through the Tourism Promotions Board," Montano said in his letter.

Montano resigned amid a DOT investigation into the questioned P80-million funding that the TPB gave Buhay Carinderia, a culinary tourism program.

He said the project proponent was introduced to him by the former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo. —NB, GMA  News