Palace spotlights gains in fighting corruption amid shadow cast by 'recycling' fired execs
MANILA, Philippines — First, there's 'Build, Build Build." Then there's 'Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.' Now, there's 'Fire, Fire, Fire.'
Despite criticisms that President Rodrigo Duterte is recycling the officials he fired, Malacañang claimed that the administration has made "significant gains" to stamp out corruption and promote good governance.
“'Sibak, Sibak, Sibak (fire, fire, fire) has been the President’s consistent battlecry with officials including those holding Cabinet rank not spared from the Administration’s anti-corruption drive," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Roque said 17 local officials are facing charges in connection with the environmental woes in Boracay, which is now undergoing rehabilitation.
A total of 186 local officials have been stripped of their authority to supervise the police while 57 complaints against local officials were investigated.
Duterte has promised not to tolerate even a whiff of corruption in his administration and has fired several officials, including cabinet members, tagged in irregularities.
However, doubts have been cast on the seriousness of his anti-corruption campaign after some of the officials he dismissed were given new positions.
They include agriculture undersecretary Jose Gabriel "Pompee" La Viña, who was dismissed as Social Security System commissioner over costly project proposals. La Viña has denied abusing state funds.
Also given a new post is Melissa Aradanas, a cousin of Duterte's partner Honeylet Avanceña. Aradanas was dismissed from the service after Duterte revamped the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor over its officials' unnecessary trips and their supposed failure to conduct meetings.
Former military officer Nicanor Faeldon, who resigned as customs chief while the Senate is probing the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu or crystal methamphetamine, is now civil defense deputy administrator. Faeldon has denied involvement in smuggling and narcotics trade.
A recent report by the Associated Press said about a quarter of the nearly two dozen officials dismissed by Duterte have been rehired. — Alexis Romero
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra says the Office of the President has not received resignation letters from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello.
President Rodrigo Duterte will fire Aguirre this week, according to sources, as the chief executive was unhappy with the dismissal of raps against alleged drug lords.
Director General Dr. Eric Domingo confirms his resignation as chief of the Food and Drug Administration.
His resignation is effective January 3.
"I believe I did my part to help during the pandemic. The FDA is now stronger, more efficient and systems are in place. It's time for me to move on to other things," Domingo says.
Jesus Melchor Quitain, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, has been appointed as chief presidential legal counsel.
He will replace Salvador Panelo, who is running for senator in the 2022 elections.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon has tendered his irrevocable resignation.
During the Senate hearing on the agency's proposed budget for 2022, BCDA Executive Vice President Aileen Zosa confirmed that the resignation of Dizon to President Rodrigo Duterte was effective October 15.
Dizon, however, will remain in Duterte's Cabinet as deputy chief implementer of the government's COVID-19 response.
Malacañang confirms the appointment of controversial retired military general Antonio Parlade Jr. as deputy director-general of the National Security Council. — The STAR/Alexis Romero
President Rodrigo Duterte says he has fired National Electrification Administration Administrator Edgardo Masongsong from public service because of corruption issues.
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