Who will be next on President Duterte’s chopping block?
The President recently announced he would fire another government official for alleged involvement in corruption.
Duterte did not identify the public official but criticized the person for being stubborn despite his “strict” orders not to engage in corrupt practices.
“I will stop corruption and in due time I’m going to dismiss another official. P***** i** ang titigas talaga ng ulo,” Duterte said during a press conference in Cagayan de Oro City last Sunday.
Duterte said he would not tolerate any whiff of corruption from any government worker, threatening anew to dismiss erring public servants.
“Istrikto ako sa airport, sa lahat, sa pulis. Ayaw ko ng opresyon sa Pilipino. That has to stop,” he said.
Last month, the President divulged that he has dismissed 92 government employees from different agencies after being implicated in corruption allegations. Most of the affected employees came from the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and other regulatory agencies.
Duterte said one of the officials he fired was a longtime ally from Davao City, alluding to National Irrigation Administration head Peter Laviña.
Laviña resigned from his post last month after being accused of asking for money from NIA contractors. He denied the allegations but decided to leave to spare the President from any embarrassment.
The dismissal of the 92 government officials indicated there are no sacred cows in the government, Malacañang said.
“Firing of government officials involved in corrupt practices does not come in batches. Any whiff of corruption, particularly those who serve at the pleasure of the President, means suspension or termination of service in government,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)