Paolo Duterte confirms resignation of 7 staff members, including chief of staff

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte confirmed Thursday the resignation of seven of his congressional staff at the House of Representatives—one of whom being his chief of staff who was asked to resign by another lawmaker.

Duterte made the confirmation following reports that ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Yap had asked the former’s chief of staff, Atty. Sherwin Castañeda, to resign, following alleged “mismanagement.”

It was Yap who recommended Castañeda to Duterte.

Duterte said aside from Castañeda, six other staff members also tendered their resignation.

“For the details on why they resigned I think it would be best if Atty. Castañeda should answer that question because for me tapos na ang lahat (everything is finished) and we parted ways na maayos (amicably),” Duterte said in a statement.

For now, Duterte said he is planning to bring some of his trusted staff from his office in Davao to help run his office in the House.

“I’m almost done filling up the vacant positions with the help of congressman Yap’s staff. Hoping for a smooth transition and a more effective office for the constituents of the 1st [district] of Davao City,” Duterte said.

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, Yap confirmed that it was him who asked Castañeda to resign. He also confirmed the reason behind his request was reports of mismanagement.

“Ako ‘yung nagpasok sa kanya, ako rin yung nagpa-resign sa kanya (I was the one who got him in, I was the one who also asked him to resign),” Yap, a close ally of Duterte, said.

Yap added that the resignation letters of Duterte’s staff were submitted to his office since the Davao City lawmaker is still in his hometown to monitor the situation there amid the pandemic.

“So ngayon, walang magre-receive unless ipadala pa sa Davao so sa akin na lang pina-submit (No one will receive it now unless they are sent to Davao so they asked me to have the letters submitted to me for now),” Yap said.

JE