Duterte sacks MARINA administrator for excessive trips abroad

January 4, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Marcial Quirico C. Amaro III for travelling abroad 24 times and allegedly on complaint of the agency's union.

In a press briefing in Davao City on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said if seven overseas trips by dismissed Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor Chairman Terry Ridon was "deemed excessive," how much more the 24 travels, which Amaro made in a span of 13 months.

"Let this be a reminder. Live modest lives. Avoid unnecessary trips," he said, adding government officials should "be selective" in the travels that they undertake.

Otherwise, Roque said those in the government should go to the private sector.

Of the 24 trips that Amaro undertook, Roque said that only three were sponsored trips, while the rest were all paid for by the Philippine government and the official even received honoraria.

Aside from the foreign trips, Amaro was sacked allegedly due to the letter complaint to the Office of the President by the Alliance of Marina Employees.

But the AME denied the existence of a letter complaint supposedly dated Dec. 21, 2017.

Duterte fired Ridon, along with four other PCUP commissioners, in December for "notorious junkets abroad."

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued on Wednesday a memorandum, providing the guidelines for approving foreign travels of state employees and officials.

He said no official foreign travel of government officials and personnel shall be allowed unless it satisfies all minimum criteria, such as the purpose of the trip is strictly within the mandate of the requesting government official or personnel; the projected expenses for the trip are not excessive; and the trip is expected to bring substantial benefit to the country. Celerina Monte/DMS