PCUP chair Ridon traveled about 7 times since appointment — Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chairperson Terry Ridon traveled abroad around seven times since he was appointed.

"Si Ridon, although he thanked me... Ako naman no personal reasons really to fire him, except that he had too much too soon. He was appointed September. He traveled seven times. And to think the office is an urban poor agency," Duterte said.

"I simply cannot understand why you have to be there at every powwow at the international scene. We cannot afford it," he added.

Because of this, Duterte now wants government officials to get a permit from his office before they can travel overseas.

"I'll see if it's really worthwhile," he said.

Aside from the junkets, Duterte also complained about PCUP's lack of collegial meetings as he confirmed that he fired the body's commissioners. 

In a statement, Ridon insisted his agency's "unnecessary junkets" were covered by travel authorities from the Office of the President. — RSJ/MDM, GMA News