(Eagle News)—Sacked Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Tolentino issued a public apology to President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 25, saying it was not his intention to put the chief executive in an embarrassing situation.
“Nandito ako bilang isang anak na humihingi ng kapatawaran sa kanyang butihing ama. Sa hindi sinasadyang kadahilanan, nabanggit ko po ang first family sa Q&A section during my press con last week, May 18, 2018,” he said.
According to Tolentino, he does know the person he mentioned in his press conference, Jocelyn Duterte, the sister of the president.
He said, however, that the mentioning was done “in good faith.”
“Gusto ko lang talaga matapos on time ang Mindanao Railway (Project). Kasi ‘yun lang ang ambisyon ng mga ordinaryong taga-Mindanao, lalo na sa Davao area, Davao region,” he said.
He said he hoped Transportation officials could “look into” what he said were the delays in the project.
Tolentino had said the delays were caused by “higher-ups,” but this was denied by the Department of Transportation.
The agency also said Tolentino’s May 18 press conference was “unauthorized.”
An irate Duterte sacked Tolentino last week, “for having dealings with a presidential relative, a sister,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“And the reminder of the President is no one in the government should entertain any relative of the President in connection with any matter that has to do with the government,” he added.