Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza showed “delicadeza” and “leadership by example” when he resigned from his post amid corruption allegations hurled against his two subordinates, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo lauded Dureza for taking responsibility for the matter and thanked his service, particularly in advancing the peace efforts in the country.
“We commend the former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for taking full responsibility and issuing an apology under the principle of command responsibility for the transgressions committed by his two subordinates,” Panelo said.
“His resignation has set a concrete example and put a true meaning to the value of delicadeza and morality in governance. This is leadership by example,” he added.
President Duterte announced the resignation of Dureza Tuesday night shortly after revealing he fired two officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for alleged corruption.
Duterte said he was “very sad” to accept the resignation of Dureza, adding the OPAPP head assumed command responsibility for the offenses committed by his two subordinates.
Panelo said the President has accepted “with regrets” Dureza’s resignation, adding they were grateful for helping the government walk an extra mile in the peace process.
“We take this occasion to thank Secretary Dureza for the services he rendered to the nation, particularly under the Duterte administration, where he assisted the President in walking the extra mile in advancing peace for the good of our nation and all Filipinos,” he said.
Panelo said the government is determined to wage an unremitting “war on corruption” following the dismissal of the two peace officials.
He guaranteed that no one would be spared in President Duterte’s anti-corruption drive.
“The President’s immediate termination of Mr. Ronald Flores, Undersecretary for Support Services and Pamana National Program Management Office, and Atty. Yeshter Donn Baccay, Assistant Secretary for Support Services and Pamana Concerns, under the Office of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, serves as another warning to all government officials that no person is exempted from the administration’s high and exacting standards of honesty in public service,” Panelo said.
He said the termination of Flores and Baccay showed “the President remains resolute in stamping out corruption in the bureaucracy, which includes offices which are specialized in particular fields of governance.” (Genalyn D. Kabiling)