Duterte fires HUDCC secretary-general due to corruption allegations

Update (5:57 p.m.)

President Rodrigo Duterte has sacked Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Secretary-General Falconi Millar due to allegations of corruption, Malacañang said Thursday.

“There are no sacred cows in the Administration, especially in its drive against corruption. As the President said, he will not tolerate even a whiff of corruption in the Executive Branch of Government,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“The Palace is announcing the termination of services of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Secretary-General Falconi V. Millar due to allegations of corruption,” he added.

Panelo stressed that the President’s order takes effect immediately.

“We assure the public that the delivery of public services shall unimpededly continue, especially in rehabilitating Marawi City and other affected areas,” he said.

Speaking in an event in Tanza, Cavite on Thursday afternoon, Duterte confirmed that he had signed Millar’s dismissal before leaving Malacañang earlier.

“When you are there… you have the power. You have the authority, you can do corruption and it can corrupt you,” Duterte said.

Millar, however, denied the corruption allegation.

“It is an obvious demolition job. In protecting the interest of the government, I have annoyed some personalities. I filed my resignation this morning,” he said in a statement shared to Palace reporters. /ee

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