PORT MORESBY — Another top government official allegedly involved in corruption will be next on President Duterte’s chopping block.
The President said he would fire another government official as soon as he returns to the Philippines from his visit to Papua New Guinea.
Duterte is scheduled to arrive in Davao City early Sunday morning after cutting short his three-day visit to Papua New Guinea where he attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. He came from Singapore where he participated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
“Sinabi ko I will try to stop corruption… and when I go back, meron na naman. Talagang tanggalin kita, sorry na lang [And when I go back, there will be another official. I will really remove you. Sorry],” Duterte said during a meeting with the Filipino community last Friday night.
In line with his campaign to weed out corruption in the bureaucracy, Duterte said he has fired several officials including a Cabinet member whom he caught “lying” during a Cabinet meeting.
He said he was dismayed with some dismissed officials since they were the ones who convinced him to seek a presidential bid back in 2016. He said these people thought they were “crusading saints” but were first to commit offenses.
“I fired a Cabinet member during a Cabinet meeting for lying. Alam mo may tinatanong ako sa kanya, ‘Did you consult your legal office?’ Sabi niya, “No.” Si Sonny naman itinulak niya ‘yung cellphone niya — ‘yung cellphone mo. Nakalagay doon, ‘This guy is lying,'” he said.
“So nag-init ang ulo ko because I should trust him. At saka maski na hindi ko kababata, nobody would foist a lie like that. Na nag-init ang ulo ko,” he said.
He said he has many friends who have been with him since he served as mayor of Davao City in 1988.
“Ang naasar ako and what pisses me off, ‘yung style ba na, “Rod, tumakbo ka na kasi ang bayan natin wala talaga. Ganun, ganun.” Akala mo naman the crusading saints of the country only to be the first to commit,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
