(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he would order the dismissal of public officials who went on unauthorized trips with public funds next week.
Duterte made the announcement during a speech in Davao City.
“A number of them are lined up to be fired. Those who went out of the country to waste the money without permission of the authorities, in this case, the President, they have to go,” Duterte said.
He said, however, that he doesn’t “make public my dismissals para naman… to spare them of the humiliation.”
He reiterated that if needed though, he would “undress” those engaging in corruption if needed.
“Huhubaran talaga kita. Iyan ang sakit ko. Pahiyain kita. So when I say to you, you resign, go out silently. Para walang…less bloody para sa atin,” he said.
“For those guys who have been using money of the government just easily going in and out or travel upon the invitation of…maski sino na mga seminar, seminar. I have to ask them to resign if at all, kung gusto ko man. Kakaunti lang ang those important meetings,” he said.
The President has repeatedly made known his hard stance against corruption in public since he assumed office.
He is known to have fired appointees, even those closest to him, once they are accused of corruption.
Among those Duterte has fired are Ismael Sueno, then the Interior Secretary; then-Budget Undersecretary Gertrudo de Leon; and then-Undersecretary Maia Halmen Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
