Duterte on execs: I may say sorry but I don’t ask permission to fire

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he would apologize to officials whom he fired from their posts if he did so wrongly.

Duterte at a forum in New Delhi assured Indian businessmen that he was committed to stop graft and corruption, stressing that he would not hesitate to terminate officials and even contracts linked to corruption.

“I fired people even it is really a doubtful... There is a book which says that. Maybe I will ask for forgiveness if I fired you for the wrong reason, but I cannot ask your permission,” Duterte said.

“Later, maybe I will say I’m sorry but I do not ask permission to fire anybody. Maybe I will send my regrets but that is how overzealous I am for Philippines has always been known to be a corrupt country,” he added.

Duterte said that he gave no second chance when it came to corruption.

He said past administrations had “a component of corruption” in their governance.

“The problem is, corruption has always been a way of life. If I cannot stop, I just would like to maybe reduce it to the barest minimum,” Duterte said.

The President also vowed to protect the Indian business as long as they would not be involved in corruption.

“But I can assure you that will be a hassle-free. It would be your fault actually if you do not speak out and stand for what you believe is wrong," Duterte said.

"And I said I can guarantee you an audience with you and whoever is your protagonist in government service. I will protect you, I will make the guarantees, just do not give in to corruption,” he added.

“So we invite, we protect,” Duterte said.

Duterte assured the Indian investors that he was not a micro-manager as he would not allow business papers or contracts to reach his table.

“I allow the secretaries the widest of the elbow room and the papers stop there. They sign in behalf of the government. I do not sign commercial or financial papers. Nobody reaches — not that kind,” Duterte said.

“Do not go into this kind of thing. Either by you or by the government, official concerned because you will find your papers in the wastebasket if I come to know it,” he added. —NB, GMA News