Duterte’s promise to sack corrupt commissioners hangs
President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech during the Anti-Corruption Summit 2017: 'Breaking Chains of Corruption 2017' at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on November 28, 2017, cites how the Constitution has allowed corrupt individuals to escape accountability. Ruji Abat/Presidential Photo
MANILA, Philippines — There was no word yesterday on whether President Duterte made good on his promise to fire members of an entire commission over corruption.
The President announced last Friday that he would fire an entire commission today, believing that corruption would not exist without the knowledge of its officials.
Duterte did not name the commission, but sources said he may abolish the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which has reportedly drawn his ire because of corruption issues linked to it.
Talks about the President’s alleged plan to abolish the ERC surfaced a month after he named former justice secretary Agnes Devanadera as chair of the commission.
The Commission on Audit, the Commission on Elections and the Commission on Human Rights, which has been accused by Duterte of being biased against his war on illegal drugs, cannot be abolished without amending the 1987 Constitution.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he had no information yet on the agency that Duterte wants to abolish.
The President did not have public engagements yesterday but he hosted a Christmas party for bloggers in Malacañang.
During his visit to Lima, Peru last year, Duterte demanded the resignation of all ERC officials following the suicide of its bids and awards committee chief, who was supposedly pressured to sign anomalous contracts.
“I am demanding that they all resign,” Duterte told reporters who covered his participation at the 28th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meet.
“I’ve read the internal (report) and the intelligence (report). Talagang binastos nila ang (they really disrespected the)… I don’t know, just like in the past,” he added.
ERC bids and awards committee chief Francisco Villa Jr. killed himself on Nov. 9, 2016 in his home in Parañaque City.
He allegedly left three suicide notes in which he claimed to have been pressured by then ERC chair and chief executive officer Jose Vicente Salazar to approve procurement deals and to hire consultants without proper bidding and procedure.
Duterte had threatened to ask Congress to abolish the regulatory body if its officials refuse to quit their posts.
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