Inspired by record-high rating, Duterte vows tougher fight vs corruption in gov’t

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO (FILE)

After hitting record-high net satisfaction ratings, President Rodrigo Duterte said work continues especially his effort to rid the government of corruption.

Duterte’s comment was sought after he obtained a +66 net satisfaction rating in the latest Social Weather Stations Survey (SWS) amid his martial law declaration in Mindanao.

READ: Duterte nets personal record-high satisfaction rating—SWS

“Basta ito lang sabihin ko (All I can say is this): I ran for the Presidency to serve the Filipino people. Period. Wala akong agenda (I have no agenda),” he said in an interview posted on the Facebook page of Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson.

“And that is why you can expect yung corruption, ‘yung kalokohan—hindi ko man mahuli lahat pero (the corruption and anomalies—I may not be able to eradicate it, but) I will not tolerate it. Not during my term,” he added.

In his previous speeches, the President vowed to fire government officials “even with a whiff or a whisper of corruption.”

Since he assumed office in June 30 last year, Duterte had fired some long-time allies and closest aides.

“Ang akin is always dismissal. Walang ano diyan lalo na ‘yung corruption, it’s dismissal. I will not be satisfied with just mga suspensyon, umalis ka talaga. I have done that with cabinet secretary and a good friend of mine who has been with me for many years. ‘Pag hindi tayo nagkaintindihan sa bagay na ‘yan, umalis ka,” he said.

(My punishment for that is always dismissal. I am uncompromising when it comes to corruptions, it’s dismissal. I will not be satisfied with just suspensions, you have to go. I have done that with cabinet secretary and a good friend of mine who has been with me for many years. If we do not see eye to eye on that matter, you have to go.)

The President was apparently referring to former Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno who was fired in April due to corruption allegations over the irregular purchase of the Rosenbauer fire trucks from Austria.

He also sacked his friend and former administrator of National Irrigation Admiration Peter Laviña, who served as his spokesman during the 2016 national elections, following corruption allegations at the agency. Laviña allegedly received 40 percent kickbacks from contractors. IDL