Palace lauds Dureza for resigning out of ‘delicadeza’

Malacañang on Wednesday praised resigned Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza for taking full responsibility for the “transgressions” of two members of his staff who were sacked by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We commend the former presidential adviser on the peace process for taking full responsibility and issuing an apology under the principle of command responsibility for the transgressions committed by his two subordinates,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

‘Leadership by example’

“His resignation has set a concrete example and put a true meaning to the value of delicadeza (sense of propriety) and morality in governance. This is leadership by example,” Panelo said.

He expressed the administration’s thanks to Dureza for his service, especially “walking the extra mile in advancing peace for the good of our nation and all Filipinos.”

Dureza, who led government negotiators in peace talks with communist and Moro rebels, resigned on Tuesday after President Duterte fired Ronald Flores, undersecretary for support services, and Yeshter Donn Baccay, assistant secretary for support services, at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Oppap).

President Duterte announced Dureza’s resignation in a speech in Panglao, Bohol province, on Tuesday evening.

“I am sad but I have to accept his resignation,” the President said after announcing he had fired Flores and Baccay for alleged corruption.

He said Dureza was not involved in corruption but took responsibility for the corruption that happened at Oppap on his watch.

‘I failed’

“I am sad because despite my efforts to be compliant with your strong advocacy against corruption, I failed,” Dureza said in his resignation letter, which he made public.

Dureza said he had been warned about corruption in the antipoverty projects under his agency, including rural infrastructure, scholarships and medical aid to poor families in insurgency-hit provinces, and apologized for his failed efforts.

The President said the government was investigating the wrongdoings at Oppap.

In his letter of resignation, Dureza said he had verified “some reports” but the local officials he had talked with “declined to be quoted.”

Dureza, a former classmate of the President, is unlikely to get another appointment soon.

“He is not after anything,” the President said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana extolled Dureza’s service, saying they “worked beautifully with each other.”

Lorenzana praised Dureza for taking responsibility for the corruption that took place in his office, which the defense chief described as “[t]ruly an admirable trait of a great leader and patriot.” —With reports from Leo Udtohan, Germelina Lacorte, Jeannette I. Andrade and AP