MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the immediate relief of several district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) purportedly involved in the alleged corrupt practices of some House lawmakers.
In a pre-recorded televised speech, Duterte bared the names of several House members allegedly involved in corruption and the district engineers they were supposedly “in connivance” with.
Among the engineers the President mentioned is someone from the Occidental Mindoro who has stayed in his post for 10 years.
“[DPWH] Secretary Mark [Villar] issued an order for the transfer of the said district engineer but until now it has not been implemented due to the intervention of [Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine] Sato,” Duterte said.
“The secretary of DPWH is listening now… This district engineer, whoever this demon [“yawa”] is, you are relieved beginning tomorrow. If you are listening — this is nationwide — Secretary Mark Villar, kindly implement the order,” he added, speaking partly in Filipino.
The president then went on to list off the names of alleged corrupt House members and the district engineers supposedly involved.
After mentioning their names, Duterte said: “You are relieved tomorrow…By noontime, you should be talking with your boss.”
Nevertheless, the chief executive said that he was presuming the innocence of the district engineers he mentioned in his speech.
“These engineers that I mentioned, I do not condemn you, I give you the presumption of innocence just like the congressmen. It just so happens that your name cropped up in the investigation,” Duterte said.
He added that he would order the reorganization of the assignments of district engineers.
“I would like to ask Secretary Villar to give me the list of all district engineers and the districts they are assigned all over the country. I will reorganize the assignments. I will reshuffle all of you,” the President said.
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