President Duterte has fired Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima due to loss of trust and confidence, Malacañang announced yesterday.
Roque said Purisima was no longer with the OCD effective immediately. However, he said Duterte has yet to name Purisima’s replacement.
“Tinanggal po sa puwesto si Assistant Secretary Kristoffer Toby Purisima ng OCD for lack of trust and confidence,” he said.
According to Roque, Purisima was involved not only in the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis but also in the response to calamities.
“Yung opisina po niya at the forefront of providing assistance ‘pag meron pong mga man-made calamities at meron ding papel ang opisina niya dito sa COVID-19 dahil kabahagi po sila sa government response,” he said.
Roque likewise confirmed that Duterte has accepted the resignation of Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr.
“Tinanggap na rin po ‘yung resignation ni Undersecretary Rio kasi nga po Pebrero pa niya sinumite ang kanyang resignation,” he said.
Roque extended Malacanang’s gratitude to Rio for his invaluable services to the nation and wished him well in all his future endeavors.
“Siya po ay talagang competent at talaga naman pong mapagkakatiwalaan at wala pong bahid ang kanyang karakter,” he added.
Rio, who headed the agency before the appointment of DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan, reportedly stepped down from his post due to questionable disbursements of confidential funds amounting to P300 million.
But Rio said his resignation was not due to an alleged rift between him and Honasan, nor the alleged confidential fund.
He said it was because he could not work with the new officials working with Honasan. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
