Duterte: I hope I would not have to fire gov’t officials again

President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping he would not have to fire government officials anymore over allegations of abuse of public funds. 

“I have fired several and I hope I would not have to do it again because I do not like it,” Duterte said at the oath taking of newly appointed officials in Malacañang.

Duterte mentioned former Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Patricia Licuanan who resigned last month over allegations of excessive foreign travels and delaying the release of allowance and subsidies for CHED scholars.

The President also cited the case of Marcial Amaro III, former administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) sacked over numerous foreign trips and the non-renewal of appointments of Social Security System chairman Amado Valdez and SSS Commissioner Jose Gabriel La Viña.

“I am not ready to say that they have sinned against the government. Maybe I will just say there is always a time to be in government, and to be not in government,” Duterte said.

Duterte was catapulted to power in mid-2016 on campaign promises to eliminate corruption and illegal drugs, maintain peace and order, and forge lasting peace in Mindanao. —ALG, GMA News