Says those recently fired were those who convinced him to run for presidency
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, April 17, said he fired as of last week “another set of high-(ranking) officials.”
The President did not identify who these were in his speech before newly appointed officials in Malacanang, but said they were those who “went back and forth to Davao to convince me to run” for the presidency.
“Ayoko sana na mawalan ako ng bilib sa kaibigan..I give it because I know they meant well. But along the way, papasok ka dun, kalokohan. P*t**g i** bakit pumunta ka pa sa akin? Bakit kayo supporters? Even during my mayorship they were already around. Nakakahiya,” Duterte said.
He then asked the camera men to turn off their cameras so he could talk to the new government officials.
In his prepared speech before them though, he urged them to do their part in government, and assured them of his support.
“Let us therefore motivate all of you and all our citizens and contribute to sustainable development and lasting peace,” he said.
The President fires officials who have been accused of corruption, or forces them to resign instead.
Then-Interior Secretary Mike Sueno was fired over an allegedly anomalous firetruck project.
Peter Laviña, his then-campaign spokesperson, was allegedly made to resign as National Irrigation Administration chief also amid allegations of corruption.
On Tuesday, April 17, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco was out of the National Food Authority Council.
Roque said, however, that this was because Duterte had ordered himself that the NFA be reverted under the Department of Agriculture instead.