(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the department’s undersecretary for peace and order who had served previously as chief of police in Davao City as acting Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The new DILG officer-in-charge is undersecretary for peace and order, Catalino Cuy.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella made the announcement on Wednesday, after the dismissal of former DILG head Ismael “Mike” Sueno because of complaints on corruption sent to the President by three DILG undersecretaries.
“The Palace announces the designation of Undersecretary Catalino S. Cuy as Officer-In-Charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government effective immediately,” Abella said.
“Usec Cuy will hold the position to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of services of the Department until the President appoints a new Secretary,” he added.
President Duterte fired Sueno after receiving complaints and verifying information on allegations of corruption, particularly the former DILG chief’s insistence in implementing a controversial firetruck deal that has a pending petition before the Supreme Court.
Sueno even went on a trip to Austria to inspect the Rosenbauer firetrucks that were part of the deal, bringing along his family in the trip.
Three undersecretaries of the DILG had written Duterte about Sueno’s activities that they felt were inappropriate.
The three DILG undersecretaries – John Castriciones for operations, Jesus Hinlo for public safety and Emilie Padilla for legislative liaison and special concerns – sent a letter to Malacañang detailing the complaints against Sueno.
Duterte had repeatedly said he would not allow corruption under his administration, saying that if he smells even a whiff of corruption from any of his officials, he will not hesitate to fire them, no matter how close they are to him.
Sueno was one of the closest officials to Duterte, having been one of those who had pushed then-Davao mayor Duterte to run for the presidency.
