Duterte says he dismissed a Usec, another official

April 22, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte said he has fired two government officials, including an undersecretary, due to alleged corruption.

In a speech in Legazpi City on Saturday, Duterte said he removed those officials for allegedly making applicants return to their agencies multiple times.

"The other day, I fired two (officials), one (is an) undersecretary," he said, without naming the dismissed officials.

The President, however, admitted he did not have evidence that those officers were engaged in illegal activities.

"I don't have evidence, but I have the affidavit that the person was going back and forth. I mean, independently of the knowledge of the complainant, I was not in front of you. But I'll check the record. Apply, then return, six times, seven times, eight times," he said.

He also reminded government officials to be polite to the people they are serving.

"We are workers of government, and we are mandated to serve the public," he stressed. "Then you have to be courteous and protect the money of the people."

He urged the public to use the 8888 hotline for their complaints against government officials or agencies.  Ella Dionisio/DMS