Duterte admits firing Dole Usec on corruption complaint

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte said he indeed fired Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say and another government official because of corruption allegations.

Duterte, in a speech before members of the Grand Masonry here on Thursday – the transcript of which was released by Malacañang on Friday – said he was warning Say not to make himself appear “white.”

“And this Atty. Say said: ‘I was forced to go out because we could not agree in the labor department about the ending of this endo.’ And he was making excuses. That’s why I came up with a warning, you better tell the truth now or else I will release the affidavit of the complainant who, who signed it against you,” President Duterte said.

“I will make it public,” he warned.

President Duterte said while Say wanted to emerge as a clean guy, he also wanted to paint the other guy black.

He advised the former labor official to spare himself from the embarrassment.

“You just go out silently,” he added. /jpv