BY ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
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PRESIDENT Duterte revealed last Friday that he fired Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima from the Office of the Civil Defense because he was doing what he wants with the funds of the office without regard to proper accountability.
Duterte made the statement two weeks after he sacked Purisima from his post as assistant secretary at the OCD.
In a public address, Duterte recalled how Purisima was supposedly involved in corrupt practices.
“Siya ‘yung tigabili. Siya ‘yung purchaser tapos siya rin ‘yung doing what he wants with the money,” he said. “Sinabi ko, ‘Hindi ninyo pera ‘yan. Huwag ninyong gastusin ang hindi iyo’,” he added.
The President reiterated his warning to government officials that he will not spare them if he learned they are involved in corruption.
“Hindi na ako magmura kasi nagsimba ako. So iwas muna ako. Pero ‘pag ginawa ninyo ‘yan…Sige, isang ano – mura lang. P***** i** kayo, sinabi ko na sa inyo eh talagang hahabulin ko kayo,” Duterte said. “You will go to jail para may example ako sa panahon kung wala na ako dito pagka-Presidente,” he added.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced last May 22 that Purisima was no longer with OCD on account of loss of trust and confidence, but said that he was not privy to the exact reason behind his sacking. “Tinanggal po sa pwesto si Assistant Secretary Kristoffer Purisma ng OCD for lack of trust and confidence,” he said.
According to Roque, Purisima’s office 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.
