(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday expressed his full support for Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who has been facing criticisms from his detractors.
“May mga allegations, magpunta doon, na corrupt. Sabi ko, he doesn’t have time for that. He doesn’t even know how to count his money,” Duterte said at a Cebu Pacific event.
The President made the comment after Tugade, who attended the event, introduced the chief executive as a man with unparalleled love for the country.
“Secretary Tugade, in respect to his statement, he also has no match, he is bright. He was our brightest classmate in law school,” Duterte added.
Several so-called advocacy groups have also called for the resignation of Tugade, a firebrand leader in his own right.
A group calling itself the Road Users Protection Advocates even opposed Tugade’s appointment as Transportation Secretary before the Commission on Appointments, citing his supposed failure to address the traffic crisis, and his “incredible and fantastic” solutions to problems.
But the Department of Transportation itself vouched for Tugade, noting that he was a no-nonsense leader who abhors corruption.
The agency noted there appeared to be an “orchestrated effort” to oust the DOTr chief, who likes to get things done.
