MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will not stop firing officials until there are no more corrupt personnel in government, Malacañang announced yesterday after the Chief Executive dismissed the government corporate counsel over a questionable legal opinion.
Duterte on Monday fired Government Corporate Counsel Rudolf Philip Jurado for issuing a legal opinion that allowed the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone to issue franchises outside Aurora province.
The President said Jurado gave himself an authority similar to state-run gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte would continue to be in firing mode until the government is cleansed of corruption.
“It won’t stop until the government runs out of corrupt personnel, even if it means firing everyone because that is the promise of the President,” Roque said.
“But he believes that while he is firing a lot of people because of corruption, many others want to serve the country,” Roque added.
Despite claims that there is double standard in Duterte’s crackdown on corruption, Roque gave the President’s effort a score of nine out of 10.
“The campaign against corruption is really effective,” the President’s spokesman said.