Resigned DOLE exec denies committing graft

Former Labor undersecretary Dominador Say on Friday denied that he resigned to preempt his removal from office by President Rodrigo Duterte, who according to Malacañang has found evidence linking him to graft.

"Hindi ako tumakbo, hindi ako nag-resign immediately simply because nakikita kong tatanggalin ako," Say told GMA News in a phone interview.

Say said he submitted his courtesy resignation letter to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III early last month but Bello did not immediately act on it.

"Ang resignation ko was last March 5. Hindi lang naaksyunan ni secretary dahil ayaw niya akong paalisin," he said.

At a press briefing on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said "it was good" for Say to quit his post since Duterte has found evidence linking him to graft.

Bello defended Say, saying he does not believe the former labor official is capable of graft as claimed by Malacañang.

In the phone interview, Say denied committing any wrongdoing. "I did not betray his (Duterte's) trust," he said, adding the accusation against him by a "whistleblower" is purely hearsay.

Say said he may be a "collateral damage" in a demolition job against Bello. "[Baka] si Secretary ang tina-target nito, collateral damage lang ako, opinion ko lang 'yan," he said.

Say also said he is open to talking with Duterte to clarify things. "Kung tanungin ako ni Presidente magpapaliwanag ako for the sake of magpapaliwanag, ibig sabihin I did not betray his trust."

Bello, for his part, described Say as a "very competent labor lawyer" and that he is saddened by his departure. —JP Soriano/KBK, GMA News