Members of Paolo Duterte' staff quit posts

Seven members of Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte's staff have resigned, the deputy speaker said on Thursday.

In a statement, Duterte said those who quit their posts included his chief of staff, Atty. Sherwin Castaneda.

Duterte said it was ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Yap asked Castaneda to resign.

It was also Yap who recommended that Duterte hire Castaneda as his chief of staff.

Yap supposedly received numerous complaints of mismanagement on the part of Castañeda.

Duterte said it would be best if Castañeda himself would reveal the reason for his resignation.

"For the details on why they resigned I think it would be best if Atty. Castan?eda should answer that question because for me tapos na ang lahat and we parted ways na maayos,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he was planning on bringing in some staff from his Davao City district office to help him run his office at the House of Representatives.

"I’m almost done filling up the vacant positions with the help of congressman Yap’s staff. Hoping for a smooth transition and a more effective office for the constituents of the 1st district of Davao City,” he said.

Duterte and Yap are known allies in Congress, with the latter even admitting in one interview that they have been long-time friends.

Their ties are evidenced in the many measures they filed together, including the one that seeks to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas. -NB, GMA News