Duterte warns suspended gov’t officials: ‘Next time, I’ll dismiss you’

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte warned suspended government officials on Tuesday that, if they commit another offense – even simple neglect of duty — he would dismiss them.

Duterte made the threat in a pre-recorded address aired late at night, during which he named some persons in the list of officials suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Next time, I will dismiss you from the service. All of you who are suspended, the next time you have [a case] of even simple neglect of duty or whatever, if it falls as a ground for dismissal, I will have you removed,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.

“Do not ever think you are indispensable,” he added. “There are many Filipino who are graduates and who are competent and honest. There are many who don’t have jobs now. So, all of you in government, take care of your position. Do not allow even a dent of [an] anomaly.”

“I’m telling you: I’m going to be stricter now until the end of my term… There are many Filipinos who are just waiting, who are civil service eligible. There are many of them who I can replace you with.”

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