Duterte to fire another exec for corruption

Palace: Fired HUDCC exec asked for commission

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte is set to fire this week for graft another government official with the rank of undersecretary.

“When I return to Manila I am going to fire another undersecretary for corruption,” the President said during kick-off ceremonies for the construction of the Davao City Bulk Water Project along the Davao-Bukidnon road yesterday afternoon.

He did not identify the official nor name any agency.

“Again there is corruption in government because people are not doing (anything) about it,” the President said, citing in particular how he has opened avenues for people to report to him or to his office about government officials involved in graft and corruption.

The latest official that the President fired over corruption allegations was Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) secretary-general Falconi Millar.

The President’s order on Millar’s dismissal took effect immediately even as the latter was in charge of the Bangon Marawi rehabilitation project.

The Chief Executive has been firing high-ranking officials and heads of offices accused of corruption, excessive travels and abuse of power.

Among those he had fired were former interior and local government secretary Mike Sueno, former tourism chief Wanda Teo and former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

This year alone, Duterte ordered the dismissal of military officials over supposed anomalous transactions at the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ V. Luna Medical Center.

The President also fired the board members and management of Nayong Pilipino Foundation for entering into a supposedly disadvantageous lease deal with a Hong Kong-based developer for an integrated casino resort project.

Duterte likewise fired former National Irrigation Administration chief Peter Laviña in March last year and former government corporate counsel Rudolf Philip Jurado last May.

Not fired

Meanwhile, Millar claimed that he resigned and was not dismissed from his post.

He alleged that some people had hatched a “demolition job” against him for protecting the government’s interests.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, said a complaint was filed against Millar by a company who had accused him of extortion.

“There was a complaint, there was a sworn statement and then the President ordered an investigation and there was a credible basis, the complaint was validated,” Panelo said.

He said the complaint came from a person representing a company with receivables from HUDCC.

“It appears that the company has yet to collect the money and then according to that sworn statement, (the complainant) was asked to give money for the release. It was relayed to him twice,” Panelo said.

He said the company representative refused to pay and executed an affidavit against Millar.

A source said the company, which had “millions” in receivables from the HUDCC, filed the complaint last Oct. 26.

Panelo said the government would support the filing of charges against the former housing official.

“I’m sure there will be a case filed, but you need witnesses. So, before the DOJ (Department of Justice) can file a case, you need these witnesses,” he said. – Alexis Romero