Duterte to issue ‘dismissal letters’ to corrupt gov’t execs before China trip

President Rodrigo Duterte said he would issue “letters of dismissal” to government officials accused of corruption before he leaves for China on Wednesday to attend a key infrastructure forum.

Speaking at the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Pasay City on Tuesday, Duterte said corruption “seeps down to the core” of government.

“I'm going to work for the next three years. But if you ask me if I'm happy with the job, I am not because of so many corruption and I have to fire [people]. I'm leaving for China, and before that I will leave so many letters of dismissal,” he said.

Duterte did not give details on who could be on the chopping block this time.

“Corruption is really — (it) seeps down to the core. You have to have something more than just a warning,” he said, as he claimed to be the only president who beats up erring government officials and employees.

“Iyang mga hangol, sabihin ko ‘hulihin mo 'yan’. I’ll tell you, ‘give me your money because I do not bring money.’ So the soldiers — the white ones there, I would say, ‘give me your money,’ and I would say to the guy, ‘eat it.’”

Duterte’s pronouncement came days after he threatened to replace all officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) as he lamented the water shortage that hit parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province in March.

The President recently received the report of the MWSS on the water supply mess which the chief executive might use as basis on deciding on the fate of the MWSS officials.

Duterte is set to leave for Beijing on Wednesday afternoon to participate in the second Belt and Road forum slated for April 25 to 27.

He is also due to hold bilateral meetings with China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on the sidelines of the event. — MDM, GMA News