(Eagle News)—Sacked Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Tolentino said on Monday, May 21, that he respects President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to dismiss him.
“I am serving at the pleasure of the President,” Tolentino said in a statement.
Despite him being dismissed, he said he “will continue to support (Duterte) and to continue to fight against corruption and to protect the interest of Mindanao and its people.”
Tolentino was dismissed days after he said in a press conference that he asked the blessing of a member of the presidential family to push through with the bidding for the Mindanao Railway Project.
Duterte himself said that member of the presidential family was his sister.
Tolentino claimed this was amid the moves of some “kontrabidos” in the Department of Transportation to rig the project.
The Department of Transportation has said Tolentino’s press conference was unauthorized.
It also denied there were delays in the project.
“Sabi ko, ‘tanggalin mo.’ Sabi ko, ‘fire him out.’ His violation? He violated my order na pagka ako ang minention or talking to my relatives, even on a conversation about a project only, t***, sisipain talaga kita,” Duterte had said, apparently referring to Tolentino.