The purge in government will continue and corrupt government officials will likely be the next target of  President Duterte’s  “name-and-shame” campaign.

The President admitted he was hoping not to name the erring public servants but is dismayed with the lingering corrupt practices in “regulatory bodies and agencies” especially in the provinces despite his warning that he will be harsh when it comes to corruption.

“Maybe I will just also declare them just like the hunted men sa droga para matapos na ang kalbaryo ng Pilipinas,” the President said during the oath-taking ceremony of business groups in Malacañang  Tuesday.

You have been in graft for so many years and for so many decades, you have to go,” he said.  During the affair, the President said in jest he wanted to feed the corrupt officials to the fishes in the Pasig river who just contend themselves with water lilies.

Angered by continuing corrupt practices in some agencies, the President declared all appointive government positions vacant starting last Monday.

In a memorandum circular issued by the Palace, the presidential appointees of the Aquino administration  have been given seven days to submit their courtesy resignations.

If he asks for a government official’s resignation, the President said this means the Filipinos have lost confidence in him/her to handle the affairs of government.

LEAVE

He also advised the public “not to bleed hearts” for the corrupt officials “because they ought to be out and I would be the last person in this planet to do an unfair thing.”

“I’ll just conduct a purge. I told you we have to go into a purge. It might not include the technical people, for those who are really in the Civil Service roll of employees, they are not included but it could send the message that tanggalin itong lahat, even my appointees or those who are there at my behest during the previous administration,” he said.

Duterte also plans to conduct a review of the corruption cases filed against officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.  If the cases have been pending for the last three years, Duterte said: “There is no reason at all to hang on them. Better go.”

The President, however absolved Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Ed Galvante and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)  chief Martin Delgra from any liability for graft practices, saying corruption often occurs in regional offices.

“They have nothing to do with it. Corruption starts even upon the filing of papers. And sa probinsya ho, madalas pa rin,” he said.

The LTFRB official in Cagayan has already resigned due to reported corruption anomalies. Delgra earlier admitted continuing acts of corruption in Regions 1, 3, 11, 12 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

P220 M MONTHLY

In the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said they already forwarded  to the Department of Justice the case of Customs Police Captain Arnel Baylosis who reportedly received P220 million monthly in bribes since 2012.

Faeldon said Baylosis  is only one of the many Customs employees facing corruption charges.

“They will be the one to conduct investigation and come up with whatever courses of action are necessary,” he said.

“Four individuals who had direct transactions with him testified through affidavit that previously, since 2012, they had been giving bribe money. It’s called in the Customs ‘tara,’ amounting to at least 100,220 million pesos monthly,” he said.

According to Faeldon, he has been receiving affidavits against Baylosis since he assumed office. However, he opted not to reveal it to the media so investigation can be conducted properly. (With a report from Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn Kabiling

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