Duterte to Sara, Pulong: Safeguard public funds

President Rodrigo Duterte has reminded his children who are in politics to safeguard public funds.

Three of the President’s four children hold elective positions in government: Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte.

In a taped address aired on Tuesday, Duterte echoed his late father’s advice that “if you want to go into politics and you want to remain there for a time, stay clean.”

“Iyan ang sinasabi ko kay Inday [Sara] pati kay Pulong [Paolo]. Huwag kayong pumasok, sumobra, especially si Pulong, sa accounts siya ngayon, sa committee,”  the President said.

Paolo Duterte is the chairperson of the House accounts committee, which handles matters relating to the internal budget of the chamber. The House has a proposed budget of P15.6 billion for next year.

“Be sure to account for every money up to the last centavo para ang tao walang masabi. Inday, wala ‘yan. Talagang hindi mo ma-ano ‘yan. Babarilin ka pa niyan,” Duterte said.

The President also warned against inventing corruption claims against him.

“Do not invent a sin against me because I have painstakingly avoided being a corrupt [official],” he said.

“Matagal ho akong fiscal. Matagal akong mayor, 23 years sa Davao. Wala akong sindikato ni isa man.”

Duterte, in the same address, ordered the Department of Justice to investigate corruption in the entire government.

The order will be effective until June 30, 2022 when Duterte steps down from office unless sooner lifted or revoked.—AOL, GMA News