Duterte's firing of 'corrupt' gov't officials may be for publicity, Sereno says

Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte's firing of alleged corrupt government officials could just be a form of publicity.

"Nagfa-fire? Tapos po, 'yun lang ho. Aalis lang. Unang-una kung totoong may ginawa talagang pangungulimbat eh di ihabla, otherwise baka publicity lang po. Posibleng ganon po eh," Sereno said in an interview on GMA News TV's "Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie" on Monday.

Instead of being removed from their positions, Sereno said government officials who were accused of involvement in corruption should face the court.

Duterte has been dismissing government officials over corruption allegations as he vowed to cleanse the government before his term ends.

Among the officials he had sacked were Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairman Terry Ridon, National Irrigation Authority Administrator Peter Tiu Laviña, Dangerous Drugs Board Chair Dionisio Santiago, and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno.

Meanwhile, Sereno also called on the Chief Executive to be the Filipinos' example of a "just man" who recognizes the rule of law.

"Ipaalala natin sa ating Pangulo na siya dapat ang prime example of a just man. Ang sabi po niya eh siya eh nagso-sow ng intrigue, nagpa-plant ng evidence 'yun po ang narinig ko sa kanya eh," Sereno said.

"Ang dapat pong sabihin niya with a sincere heart eh everyone should follow the law and lahat tayo dapat eh nagsasama-sama para ipromote ang rule of law. Hindi ho nanggigipit," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News