Resign or be axed, Duterte tells 2 assistant secretaries

 President Rodrigo Duterte has asked two assistant secretaries to resign or be expelled due to their alleged involvement in corruption.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in a press briefing on Tuesday, said Duterte has advised Assistant Secretaries Moslemen Macarambon Sr. of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Tingagun Umpa of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to tender their resignations or face termination.

Citing Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) investigations, Roque said Macarambon has “regularly been intervening on behalf of smugglers of gold and other precious jewelry at the NAIA” while Umpa, allegedly committed grave abuse of power, and may have committed acts of corruption, among others, according to the DPWH.

Roque said the DPWH has issued sworn statements alleging that Umpa has “asked from contractors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao area for certain percentages from projects awarded these contractors.”
The Palace Official said more erring officials would be sacked in the coming days.

“I was told that the PACC inherited about 400 complaints. So marami po complaint na iniimbestigahan ngayon,” he said.

“Ang mga kaso po katungkulan na ‘yan ng Ombudsman,” Roque noted, adding that the evidences gathered by the PACC could be used by the Office of the Ombudsman in filing appropriate charges.

The two embattled assistant secretaries were appointees of Mr. Duterte.   /kga