BREAKING: Duterte fires PNOC Exploration Corp. head

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Philippine National Oil Company Exploration  Corp. (PNOC-EC) top official Pedro Aquino Jr.

“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has asked Atty. Pedro A. Aquino, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as well as a member of the Board of the PNOC-Exploration Corporation, to submit his resignation as such before the Office of the President, for loss of confidence,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement Tuesday.

“The President’s order is still in line and pursuant to his anti-corruption campaign in the government, and underscores once again that there are no sacred cows under this Administration,” Panelo added.

The Palace official reiterated Duterte’s order “to all officials and employees of the government to undertake actions which are only pursuant to what the law provides in the performance of their official functions and desist from committing any act that are — or may appear to be — irregular, illegal or dishonest.”

/atm