DOT exec heeds new DOT chief’s call, files resignation

Abiding by the directive of recently-appointed Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, an assistant secretary of the agency filed his resignation on Tuesday.

In a letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, DOT Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre said he is giving him and the new DOT chief the liberty to determine who should be permitted to serve in the agency, as he noted that “we all just definitely serve at the pleasure of the President.”

“As a result of the recent events at the DOT, I would be honored to give you and the new DOT Secretary, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, a free hand to determine who would be allowed to continue to serve in the said department,” Alegre wrote.

“When I accepted this post (on) September 05, 2016, I took to heart the mandate you had given us to continue to promote tourism in the country so that its benefits could be felt by each and every Filipino.”

“I have tried to heed that call to the best of my abilities.  However, because of unforeseen circumstances, I feel it is necessary to tender this courtesy resignation because we all just definitely serve at the pleasure of the President,” he also wrote.

Romulo-Puyat has ordered all DOT undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of resigned DOT Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo to submit their courtesy resignation.    Gabriel Pabico Lalu, INQUIRER.net                     /kga