Duterte: No sacred cows in crusade vs corrupt officials

SCREENGRAB FROM RTVM

President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to dismiss ranking officials he himself appointed should serve as a warning to corrupt members of the government service.

The Chief Executive stressed this in his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

“Let the dismissal of several high-ranking officials whom I myself appointed serve as a warning to all that I will never back down on my commitment to cleanse this government,” Duterte said.

Among the prominent officials Duterte sacked was former Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno due to the allegedly anomalous purchase of firetrucks by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Sueno, whom Duterte handpicked for the post, has repeatedly denied his involvement, saying it was the previous administration which entered into the questionable deal. IDL/rga