Duterte son-in-law calls sacked DOTr exec a liar over rail project

The son-in-law of President Rodrigo Duterte has lashed out at former Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Tolentino after the latter claimed that a member of the first family had given him the go-signal to proceed with the Mindanao railway project.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras", Tolentino on Friday announced in a press conference that he had been placed in charge of the rail project.

He also told the media that he asked a member of the first family, who told him upon inquiry that he should proceed with it.

"Warning... this liar is claiming that he is in charge of the Mindanao and is spreading lies that he has the blessing of the first family," Attorney Mans Carpio said in a Facebook post.

"What!!! Do not ever use the first family in your shenanigans. May nalalaman ka pang presscon. Tigilan mo na yan!" he added.

The husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also included the hashtags #namedropper and #epal in his post.

Malacañang on Monday said Duterte had fired Tolentino for dealing with a sister of the chief executive, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement after Duterte said over the weekend that he would dismiss officials who would use him or his family for leverage.

"The reminder of the President is: no one in government should entertain any relative of the President in connection with any matter that has to do with government," Roque said.

Roque also said the Palace will release on Tuesday the resignation letter of one of the officials Duterte "would have terminated."

Previously, Duterte fired high-ranking officials and heads of offices accused of engaging in corruption and making excessive travels.

Duterte has removed Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno, Terry Ridon as chairman of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Peter Tiu Laviña as administrator of the National Irrigation Authority, Dionisio Santiago as chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board, and Marcial Amaro III as Maritime Industry Authority Administrator.

Former Tourism secretary Wanda Teo and former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II have recently resigned from their posts amid controversies hounding their respective leaderships. —NB/KG, GMA News