Revamp looms for Cabinet secretaries—Palace

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

A revamp among the Cabinet members of President Rodrigo Duterte is forthcoming as the chief executive was no longer happy with the performance of some of his officials, Malacañang said Friday.

“Talagang sabi niya na merong mga secretary na hindi siya happy sa performance at magkakaroon nga daw po ng mga pagbabago sa Gabinete,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a GMA 7’s Unang Hirit interview.

(He seriously said there are secretaries that he is no longer happy in terms of performance and there will be a revamp in the Cabinet.)

Roque issued the remarks after he was asked if Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III still enjoyed the trust of Duterte after a DOJ panel dismissed charges against drug suspects Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa.

The Palace official said Aguirre continues to have the trust and confidence of Duterte.

“Well, kung wala na po kasing tiwala iyan ay hindi na po hihintayin ni Pangulo ang pagbibitiw, talagang sisibakin na po. Dahil alam mo naman na napakadami nang sinibak ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

(If he no longer has the trust and confidence, the President will not wait for him to resign, he will surely fire him right then and there. Because as you know there had been a lot of them who were already fired by the President.)

Duterte has fired several officials in government for alleged corruption and lavish trips abroad. /jpv

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