Duterte: DPWH ‘inhabited by demons’

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte hit the alleged corrupt practices within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) anew, saying the agency is “inhabited by demons.”

“Please understand that I don’t have anything against (DPWH Secretary Mark) Villar, he’s very honest, he’s very good. Nakita mo naman sa trabaho niya. The problem is the DPWH is inhabited with mga demonyo,” Duterte said during a situation briefing in Camarines Sur following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

Duterte was also informed by one of the local officials that some of the names of supposedly DPWH officers that reached him already passed away.

“Buti, kundi patayin na lang natin din,” the President said in response.

He took a swipe at the DPWH after local officials appealed to have the Bicol River dredged to solve the problem of flooding.

Duterte expressed support for the project.

“I can only give you a guarantee that I will support the project,” the president said.

Before his situation briefing in Camarines Sur, the chief executive also talked with officials in Cagayan, which was recently placed under a state of calamity due to flooding caused by Ulysses.

Ulysses, the 21st cyclone to hit the country this year, triggered massive flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

It likewise caused flooding in the Cagayan Valley, particularly in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.

Authorities said the death toll of the typhoon has so far reached 67.

/MUF