(Eagle News) — “He showed remarkable political will.”
This was how Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon described President Rodrigo Duterte after he sacked Interior Secretary Mike Sueno, citing “a lack of loss and confidence,” on Monday night.
In a statement, Biazon said Sueno, after all, was a “prime mover in the electoral campaign of the President occupying a top sensitive post.”
“Trust and confidence of a President in his appointee should be absolute. This is an example of an appointee serving at the pleasure of the President. Importantly, it shows his intolerance of corruption within his administration,” he said.
Biazon suggested that the dismissal “be accompanied by an explanation of the loss of confidence.”
He said this was “to assure the public and most especially other appointees that the removal was not brought about by infighting, demolition jobs, or jockeying for positions by persons or groups who may have intentionally sown distrust due to veiled agendas.”
“It is necessary that the President’s team is not undermined by interests which seek to gain by machinations against each other,” he said.
Duterte announced the dismissal of Sueno at the end of the 14th Cabinet meeting amid corruption allegations, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
The allegations were said to have been made by three undersecretaries of the interior department, John Castriciones, Emily Padilla and Jesus Hinlo.
Sueno has denied he owned a hotel in South Cotabato, saying it belonged to his brother.
He said in a statement that a group who had gotten in touch with gambling lords had also offered to give him money in exchange for protection, but he declined the offer.
