(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Feb. 7, admitted he walked out of a Cabinet meeting once due to dismay over the slow processing of documents in government.
In a speech before the oath-taking of new government officials in Malacanang, Duterte recalled how some of those attending the meeting were talking about applications before the National Economic Development Authority that were pending for 25 years.
“Sinabi ko, this I would not like to be part of this briefing because this will not happen during my time so why would I waste my time listening to this when it would take about two presidents to finish, kaya lumabas ako,” Duterte said.
He reiterated his dismay over a land conversion case that he said took two years to be resolved.
Earlier, President Duterte said he fired two Department of Agrarian Reform officials after he said it took them two years to convert an agricultural land into a commercial one.
“That (sic) two years include verily corruption. Pabalik-balik ‘yung tao. And, there is no end to it and the bleeding of the pocket of the guy…,” Duterte said in Thursday’s speech.
Duterte had said he wanted to speed up land conversion cases as it was an issue being hurled by the Communists against the government.
Since he assumed office, President Duterte has been very vocal against red tape in government, calling on agencies to streamline their processes.