Duterte fires Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission exec

RIVER CLEANUP Workers of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission collect garbage thrown into the waterway in Carriedo, Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the sacking of Goitia is part of “the President’s continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption, and to ensure that public officials and employees conduct themselves in a manner worthy of public trust.”

Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, asked Goitia to turn over all official documents and properties in his possession to the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administrative Services of PRRC.

“We hope that this shall serve as another example that this Administration does not – and will never – tolerate corrupt practices in the bureaucracy and in public service,” Panelo said.

The Palace official made the announcement a week after Duterte ordered the transfer of PRRC chairmanship from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

READ: Duterte names DENR as new chair of Pasig River rehab commission  

/kga