Duterte stands by LTO, LTFRB heads

MANILA, Philippines -- Despite singling out the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board as corruption-laden agencies, President Rodrigo Duterte believes the heads of the two agencies are not involved in irregularities.

 

Duterte said some people in public service continue their corrupt practices despite his warnings. He is convinced, though, that LTO chief Edgar Galvante and LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III have nothing to do with corruption.

 

“It remains really a problem in the regulatory bodies and agencies… You know, I’ve been trying to warn everybody. And I was hoping that I would not have to name them for the reason that I asked those who are involved in so many wrongs to resign before I take my oath of office,” he told business leaders in Malacañang on Tuesday.

 

“Apparently, (these are happening in) provinces through no fault of Galvante or (Delgra). They have nothing to do with it. Corruption starts even upon the filing of papers. And it still happens frequently in the province.”

 

Duterte has declared all government posts vacant to enable him to weed out corruption in the bureaucracy. He made special mention of the LTO and LTFRB, which he once labeled as among the most corrupt in the public sector.

 

Officials later on clarified that the declaration only covers appointees of previous administrations. They also clarified that Galvante and Delgra were not being asked to leave their posts.

 

Early this month, Duterte described Galvante and Delgra as people of “proven competence and integrity.” He said the two could not control some of their people on the regional level.

 

Other officials who were not asked to quit were newly-appointed Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries including presidential advisers or assistants, other officials in the executive department including state universities and colleges and government owned and controlled corporations appointed by Duterte, career officials, members of the judiciary, officials working for offices created by the constitution and those whose appointments are being processed.

 

Duterte said he would conduct a “purging” in the government because he is already “pissed off” by corruption.

 

“If I ask for or demand your resignation, it only means one thing: that the Filipino, through me, the appointing power, has lost its confidence for you to handle the affairs of government,” Duterte said.