Duterte: I will be firing another set of officials

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he would fire “another set of officials,” which he did not identify.

“I will be firing another set of officials. I’m sorry. Mahirap (It’s difficult),” Duterte said in a speech during the rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Cauyan City, Isabela.

The President did not elaborate.

His announcement came days after Malacañang announced that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan was fired “due to serious corruption allegations,” which Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo later retracted, saying the official resigned.

READ: Palace: Duterte sacked PCSO’s Balutan over alleged ‘serious corruption’ 

He had said repeatedly in his past speeches that he would fire government officials even with just a “whiff” of corruption. /ee