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DDB union denies sending Duterte letter accusing Santiago of corrupt acts


The president of the Dangerous Drugs Board Employees' Union has disavowed any knowledge of the letter supposedly sent by a certain Priscilla Herrera detailing former DDB chairman Dionisio Santiago's alleged questionable acts while he still headed the agency.

According to a report on GMA News TV's "QRT", DDBEU president Jo Ann Desiderio said the union didn't know about the letter until presidential spokesman Secretary Harry Roque presented the same at a news briefing in Malacañang on Monday.

Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte asked Santiago to resign not only because of his remarks about the mega rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija being "a miscalculation" but also because of the allegations of graft supposedly raised by the DDB union.

Desiderio said the letter didn't come from the union and Herrera, while a DDB employee, wasn't a member.

Herrera has also reportedly denied that she sent the letter and that it was her signature on the same.

Desiderio said that the letter also wasn't printed on the union's letterhead.

According to the letter dated October 25 received by the Office of the President, the union supposedly alleged that Santiago went on trips to Vienna, Austria with his family and "unqualified" favorite DDB employees.

His delegation included his "girl Friday and coffee server" identified as Edith Julie B. Mendoza.

"I would like to confirm that General Santiago was let go by the President not only because of his statements on the mega rehab centers being a mistake," Roque said.

"He was also let go because of complaints, that General Santiago was using taxpayers' money for junkets abroad. There were also complaints that General Santiago may have accepted consideration from major drug players," he added.

The letter also alleged that Santiago went to the United States this time with an alleged mistress and selected DDB employees.

"This is an extravagant use of government resources and abuse of authority," the letter said.

While Desiderio denied that the union sent the letter, she said the employees supported Duterte's campaign against corruption. —NB, GMA News

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