(Eagle News Service) — What infighting?
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday allayed fears there was infighting in his Cabinet.
“No, there is (none)…There is no infighting, no ruckus there, no trouble there,” Duterte said in a press briefing prior to his departure to the Middle East.
The President made the statement following reports of a rift among members of his Cabinet, namely Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.
Lopez had accused Dominguez of “usurping” her power with the creation of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council that aims to review a Department of Environment and Natural Resources audit that led to more than 20 mining firms ordered either closed down or suspended.
Dominguez had earlier accused Lopez of failing to observe proper procedures in issuing that order.
No corruption
Duterte added he doesn’t like people who are corrupt in his administration.
He referred to the case of Maia Chiara Halman Valdez, the undersecretary he recently fired from the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
“Yung babae, dadaldal, may nag-apply ng importation. Ang balita with tara (grease money). Jason Aquino, he’s a military man, the very first to come to Davao three years ago to urge me to run. Nilagay ko siya ryan (sa National Food Authority), dineny niya. There was loose talk about the offer per kaban,” he said.
He said the case was appealed to the Office of the President, but Valdez signed and approved the importation of rice.
“Alam mong hindi iyo iyan. When it is the OP, what you need to do there is make the recommendation. I will decide to grant or disapprove the appeal..You’re not the (OP)..so you don’t have any authority signing,” he said.
Besides, he said it was the season of harvest.
“Bakit ka mag-import ngayon ng bigas e ..patay ang farmers,” he said.
“So I am ordering (Aquino) sa NFA, kung may pera ka, you start buying. Buy rice of the local producers if you really want a buffer…Pabawiin mo ang farmers. If there is a shortfall, you might decide to import,” he added.