Duterte calls for delicadeza in officials' trips abroad

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has reminded officials to have the delicadeza (propriety) to refrain from overspending during foreign trips, warning them that he would not hesitate to fire those who abuse their positions. 

Duterte said officials who traveled more than 20 times a year would be asked to quit as part of his promise to cleanse the government of corruption. 

"If you have exceeded something like 20 travels a year, I will ask you to resign. We cannot leave the country and waste money just to attend all those meetings," the president said during the oath-taking of newly-elected village officials in Laguna last Thursday. 

The president, who had spoken out about frequent travels in the past, previously said that 12 trips a year is already too many. 

Last November, the Palace issued a memorandum circular saying official travel will only be allowed if the purpose of the trip is "strictly within the mandate" of the requesting official, the expenses will not be excessive and "the trip is expected to bring substantial benefit to the country."

The president said: "[T]here are so many things that out of delicadeza we should have - even the smallest. Let us respect the people and not spend their money left and right just like that. So I hate all of these things because I do not do it." 

Duterte noted that he has fired several officials tagged in corruption. 

Among the officials who were dismissed for allegedly going on costly or unncessary trips are:

• Former Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno
• Former Presidential Commission on Urban Poor head Terry Ridon and his four commissioners
• Development Academy of the Philippines president Elba Cruz
• Former Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Dionisio Santiago
• Former Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Marcial Amaro III
• Commission on Higher Education chair Patricia Licuanan
• Former Customs Deputy Commissioner Noel Prudente 
• Former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. interim president Celestina Ma Jude de la Serna, who has retained a seat on the PhilHealth board.

Charges have yet to be filed against the officials over their supposedly excessive trips. — Alexis Romero