Marcos on dealing with graft: I want respect but fear is better

''I want to be respected but maybe fear is better.''

This was the response of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. when asked if he wants to be feared or respected. He made the remark during an interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna wherein the latter asked him about corruption in the government.

According to the interviewer, the President seems to be kind despite corruption issues.

''Anong gagawin ko? Maging masamang tao? Siguro dapat nga talaga maging mas mabagsik talaga,'' Marcos said.

("What should I do? Become a bad person? Perhaps it should really be to transform into someone fierce.)

Marcos then said that in the past three years, government officials were immediately sacked from their posts if proven that they had been involved in corruption.

''Sa nakaraang taon, three years, basta't may report kami, validated, tanggal 'yan. Hindi na namin inaannounce pero tanggal 'yan, kadalasan...'' Marcos said.

''Marami na... pero hindi na namin pinaguusapan kasi gulo na naman eh. Basta umalis ka na, kung hindi kakasuhan ka namin, kukulong kita, umalis ka na lang,'' he added. 

The President also said there is a performance review to evaluate the government officials. 

''Titingnan namin bakit mabagal ang baba ng serbisyo, ano ang gagawin natin para pabilisin...'' Marcos said.

Asked if he would sack any Cabinet official anytime soon, Marcos warned that this would happen depending on the result of the performance review.

''Baka mangyari 'yan dito nga sa ginagawa naming performance review... yun ang warning ko sa kanila, that's what we will have to look again,'' Marcos said.—LDF/RF, GMA Integrated News