Duterte to form special team to probe mayors’ funds

President Rodrigo Duterte will create a special team to look into how local chief executives are spending their discretionary and intelligence funds.

"I will create a special team. I will review pati yung intelligence funds ninyo, 'yan ang pinakamadali mapasok sa bulsa," Duterte said during a meeting in Camp Capt. Domingo Leonor in Davao City on Friday.

Duterte mentioned the creation of the special team during a meeting with Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim, who is suspected of being one of the three top drug lords in the country.

Duterte said that he wanted to look into the discretionary and intelligence funds of mayors around the country because they "are not doing anything" to rid their towns and cities of garbage.

"Ang dumi ng Pilipinas... There is trash and garbage around and if you—you  have to wait for the plastics to go inside the drainage so everytime there’s a downpour, excessive rain, water nagka-clog," he said.

He said non-performing mayors should at least make their areas "clean and peaceful."

"Kaya kayo bayad e, kaya kayo nasa opisina n'yo kagaganda," he said.

He also chided local chief executives who buy expensive furniture and vehicles using public funds.

"Binibili n'yo furniture. Ganda ng kotse. 'Yong iba Land Cruiser, Suburban. Hindi na kayo nahiya!" he said.

No malling, pasyal-pasyal

During the meeting, a transcript of which was provided by the Presidential Communication Office, Duterte also mentioned that he will have government employees dismissed if they are caught abandoning their desks during office hours.

"We are paid by the people to work eight hours a day. Bayad tayo. So ‘pag inindian mo ang tao, eh wala ka sa opisina mo kagaya dito ng national, local, pareho rin --- after lunch break, na nasa mga mall, papasyal-pasyal, 'pag nangyari 'yan ulit, I will dismiss ka," Duterte said.

He also said that he will ask the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to strictly prohibit government officials, employees and their families from entering casinos.

"I would like to ask PAGCOR to prohibit lahat ng taga gobyerno, pati yung mga asawa, pamilya, to deny them entrance sa mga casinos. I do not want people lalo na sa gobyerno, papasok-pasok dyan..." he said.

Duterte also said that he would bar government people from taking first class seats when they travel by plane.

"Hanggang economy lang tayo," he said. —ALG, GMA News