By GENALYN KABILING
Government officials are “doing nothing” if they cannot review and decide on paperwork in two to three days, President Duterte said Thursday night.
In his televised address, the President reminded anew public servants to avoid unnecessary delays in their work as he renewed his resolve to clamp down on corruption in government.
Duterte, a former mayor of Davao City, even advised officials not to sleep if possible until they have completed the task assigned to them.
“Sabi ko sa inyo, do not delay it, do not sit on it itong mga papel na ‘to. When it is given to you for review, review it in one night. Huwag — kung hindi ka na matulog, problema mo ‘yan. Submit it a day or two days after,” Duterte said.
“You’re only given days. I do not believe in hindi mo matapos ng dalawa o tatlong araw? Eh ‘di wala kang ginawa, you were doing nothing. You’re just asked to comment or to give your advice,” he added.
Duterte reminded government personnel to focus on doing their job and not someone else’s. “Do not go into other things which are not delegated to you,” he said.
The President issued the latest reminder after vowing to combat corruption in government in the remainder of his term. He said he intends to “clean the government” or at least reduce the corrupt inside the bureaucracy. He pledged to pursue the prosecution and imprisonment of corrupt public servants.
Duterte had previously expressed dismay with the delays in government transactions and vowed to slap complaints against officials over alleged inefficiency and corruption.
Early in his remarks Thursday night, the President read out loud the names of several personnel from the Bureau of Customs who have been ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman. The Customs personnel faced various offenses such as gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct.
“Allow me a few minutes to do what I have promised to people that every meeting dito sa pag-uusap natin sa taong bayan (every talk to the people) that I will read the persons who are now under quasi judicial or judicial scrutiny,” the President said.
Duterte identified 14 Customs officials and workers dismissed from service by the Ombudsman, then named one suspended official, and three others facing investigation.
“We can expect shortly the decision on these cases,” he said.
