Ridon: All trips abroad covered by travel authorities issued by Office of the President

Ridon mum on allegation PCUP met “just 1 or 2 times” despite it being a collegial body

President Rodrigo Duterte and Terry Ridon/From Terry Ridon Facebook account/

(Eagle News) — Sacked Presidential Commission on Urban Poor Chair Terry Ridon said all his trips abroad were “covered by travel authorities” issued by the Office of the President.

In a statement, Ridon added the trips were “recommended by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.”

He said they involved “international conferences relevant to the urban poor: poverty alleviation, public housing and climate change.”

In his statement, Ridon, however, did not address the allegation the PCUP had “just 1 or 2 meetings” despite it being a collegial body.

In a speech later in the day, Duterte said that while he had no “personal reasons” for sacking Ridon, he said “he had too much too soon.”

He said since his appointment to the commission in September, the former left-leaning lawmaker traveled seven times abroad.

He also said that the PCUP had “just 1 or 2 meetings” despite it being a collegial body.

Apart from Ridon, also sacked were the other commissioners of the body.