Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on 8 May accepted the resignation of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo who was reportedly forced to tender her resignation amid corruption allegations.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo who has recently resigned amid corruption allegations. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed that Teo submitted her resignation letter before the cabinet meeting on 7 May night.

Calls for Teo's resignation mounted following a Commission on Audit finding that the Department of Tourism (DOT) placed 60 million pesos (1.2 million USD) worth of advertisements on a television programme produced and hosted by her brothers. But Teo has denied the allegations.

The Office of the Ombudsman said it would investigate Teo over the DOT's controversial ads deal. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said her office "will do a fact-finding" investigation over the deal.

Teo is the latest government official fired over corruption allegations. In April, president Duterte also fired then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

The Philippine president, who has vowed not to tolerate even a "whiff of corruption", has removed dozens of bureaucrats over graft allegations.

Last week, he warned public servants erring anew to just leave their posts quietly as he stressed that he would not let up in his anti-corruption campaign.

(Source: VNA)