QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – Malacañang said that President Rodrigo Duterte had already accepted the resignation of Peter Laviña, head of the National Irrigation Administration.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, March 2, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, through the official statement from the Office of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco “Laviña, said Laviña tendered his resignation amid attempts to vilify discredit and malign him, and to spare the President from embarrassment due to these attempts.
Laviña offered his resignation due to the allegations that he had asked money from NIA contractors.
In an earlier Facebook post, Laviña denied these allegations.
“I have been vilified in the past; my name used, abused and maligned. Recently, there had been efforts to discredit me again. There are rumors circulating that I have asked money from NIA contractors. These are not true!” he said.
According to Malacañang, the President said that it was a hard decision to make as Laviña is his friend and colleague but added that he will not tolerate any hint of corruption.
“It is with deep regret that our office receives this news and wishes him well in his next endeavors,” Abella said.
