Is it ERC? Duterte to sack entire commission

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is reportedly set to abolish the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) early next week over allegations of corruption among its officials.

The commission has long been the subject of the President’s ire. A source close to the President said Duterte has been angry at the ERC for a long time as he keeps repeating how he wanted to abolish the entire office.

Duterte just last month appointed Agnes Devanadera as ERC chair.

Saying he is serious about fighting corruption, Duterte said he is set to fire all the officials of a commission on Monday for alleged involvement in corruption.

Without naming the commission, Duterte said corruption activities by officials are not helping the economy and his governance.

In remarks at the 84th anniversary celebration of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Malolos City, Bulacan last night, Duterte declared he has no tolerance for corruption in his administration, or among his children, loved ones or closed relatives.

“Yan ang requirement ng Pilipino. Walang corruption. You know, corruption is really pulling us down. Kaya sa akin, even a whiff, bulong-bulungan lang nasabihin na tumanggap ka o naghingi (rumors that you’ve received or demanded),” he said.

“Consider denied,” Duterte said of how any government personnel or official should deal with any member of his family who would try to drop his name to curry favors.

Duterte pointed out he could never demand obedience from government officials to stop corruption activities if he could not exact the same from his family members.

He said he had confronted officials in the past, including an undersecretary at the budget department whom he fired for being talked about as being involved in corruption.  

The Chief Executive recalled being so mad that he wanted to kick the official but he had to restrain himself because the official was close to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“I will call you. ‘Don’t stay. You’re fired’,” he said. “Now, on Monday, I will fire about one commission mismo. Lahat sila… wala akong pakialam kung nakisali lahat o dalawa, tatlo, you have to go out,” Duterte said, without naming the officials.

Stamping out corruption was one of the major campaign promises of Duterte aside from eliminating the drug menace and criminality, and fighting terrorism.

He vowed to fulfill all his campaign promises except forging a final peace deal with the communists, whom he labeled as terrorists. – Christina Mendez