Duterte sacks budget undersecretary for corruption

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has axed a budget official for alleged corruption, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Gertrudo A. De Leon, whom the President referred to in a speech on Wednesday, has been fired, Mr. Abella said, citing a text message from Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.

“The President’s action highlights that no government official is sacred under this administration. Let this be a reminder to all public officers that we are all here – not for ourselves – but for the greater good of the nation,” Mr. Abella said.

Mr. De Leon works as the legislative liaison officer to coordinate with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office on the national budget. He was referred to by Mr. Duterte during a speech in a Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry event at the Manila Hotel.

“Didn’t they tell you I do not like corruption? I just fired the undersecretary of DBM, Office of the Budget. He was lucky because there were so many people. I wanted to slap him. I even stood up to – I wanted to kick him on the face. I fired him for corruption,” the President said.

In his first year, Mr. Duterte had fired several government employees.

In March, administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Peter T. Laviña was fired by the President over accusations of demanding commissions from contractors. He was also Mr. Duterte’s spokesperson during the May 2016 presidential elections.

A month later, Interior Secretary Ismael D. Sueno was given his walking papers over allegations of purchasing fire trucks from Austria. However, Mr. Sueno denied the allegations, saying that the accusations against him had no legal basis.

During that same month, Mr. Duterte sacked Cabinet Undersecretary Maia Chaiara Halmen Reina Valdez for allegedly overruling National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino’s decision to suspend rice importations.

He also fired Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Benjamin P. Reyes and Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Anna Rosario V. Paner.

Last week, Mr. Duterte said that he had fired two employees of Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission for sitting on documents that cause the delay of a major infrastructure project in Metro Manila.

Upon assumption of office, Mr. Duterte promised to eradicate corruption in the government and fight the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Recently, two presidential appointees – namely P/Chief Supt. Edgardo G. Tinio and Police Director Joel D. Pagdilao – were fired over alleged drug links and serious neglect of duty. — Rosemarie A. Zamora