It’s my sworn duty to expose corrupt officials, says President Duterte
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, December 28, announced the names of some members of the House of Representatives allegedly involved in corruption particularly in the construction of infrastructure projects.
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President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on
the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to
the people at the MalacaΓ±an Palace on December 28, 2020. KING RODRIGUEZ/
PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) provided the President the list of lawmakers embroiled in corrupt practices in connivance with engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Although investigations are still ongoing, President Duterte said in a public address that every Filipino has the right to information that’s why he was compelled to announce the names of legislators involved, adding it is his “sworn duty to do it.”
Exasperated with corruption, the Chief Executive reiterated that he is left with no choice but to divulge the names of unscrupulous government officials.
“So I’d like again ha members of Congress, this is not indictment, this is not to destroy you, but be careful because you might… It works both ways,” he told the lawmakers.
“There might be somebody using your name or gumagawa hindi mo alam pagkatapos nire-report doon,” he added.
He also ordered the relief from their posts of DPWH district engineers involved in the corrupt practices of some House members.
The President asked Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar to give him the list of all district engineers as well as their areas of assignment for a major reorganization.
“Iikutin ko kayong lahat. Kayo ‘yung mayroon talagang ano,” the President said.
At the same time, President Duterte announced that there would be another round of dismissal once the investigation at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is complete, in connection with the scam involving the state health insurer.
So far, 72 personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and 62 individuals from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) were terminated, he said. (PND)
