Palace: Santiago was let go because of complaint of junkets, receiving a house from Parojinog

Former Dangerous Drugs Board chairperson Dionisio Santiago was removed from his post because of a complaint about junkets and receiving favors from major drug players, Malacañang said on Monday.

"I would like to confirm that General Santiago was let go by the President not only because of his statements on the mega rehab centers being a mistake," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during a briefing in Malacañang.

"He was also let go because of complaints, that General Santiago was using taxpayers' money for junkets abroad. There were also complaints that General Santiago may have accepted consideration from major drug players," he added.

Based on a letter dated October 25 received by the Office of the President, the DDB Employees Union complained about Santiago's trips to Vienna, Austria with his family and "unqualified" favorite DDB employees. His delegation included his "girl Friday and coffee server" identified as Edith Julie B. Mendoza.

The union also said that Santiago went to the United States this time with an alleged mistress and selected DDB employees.

"This is an extravagant use of government resources and abuse of authority," the letter said.

DDB-EU added that Santiago received favors from major drug players such as a "big mansion" given to him by the Parojinog family in Ozamiz City. 

"Can he be an effective Chairman of the DDB as he is being reportedly a protector of a drug syndicate? We doubt it Mr. President," the letter read.

Here is a copy of the complaint vs ex-DDB chair Santiago pic.twitter.com/yzHLpzzGQA

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) November 20, 2017

The announcement came after President Rodrigo Duterte said there were officials lined up to be fired because of unauthorized trips abroad.

"It is a very strong message to the bureaucracy: The President will not tolerate junkets, unnecessary travels abroad," Roque said.

"That shows his [Duterte's] resolve against graft and corruption. As far as he is concerned, you don't even have to be proven. If you're tainted in any way by corruption, he will not hesitate to fire individuals. He has done so many times in the past and General Santiago is only the latest of them," he added.

Santiago announced that he was removed from his position on November 7. Duterte later said he was offended by Santiago's statements against the construction of the mega drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

Santiago was appointed as DDB chair in July, after former head Benjamin Reyes was removed for contradicting the government's numbers on the drug war.

Santiago ran for senator and received Duterte's endorsement in the 2016 elections. But he did not win. He was the former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general from 2006 to 2010.

As of posting time, GMA News Online is getting the reaction of Santiago on the matter. — RSJ, GMA News