Duterte names more dismissed, suspended state workers

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has again named government workers who have either been dismissed from the service or suspended due to graft and corruption.

During Tuesday night’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) meeting, the President shifted to naming government workers suspended or dismissed for various offenses.

He warned those facing charges that once their cases reach his office, he will not be forgiving.

“Even if you work out a way to get only a suspension, once it reaches my office, I can reverse any decision except by the Ombudsman. If it were up to me, for as long as money is involved, you’re dismissed. I will reverse the decision from… suspension to dismissal,” Duterte said in mixed English and Filipino.

He named those from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as Edgardo Catarongan and lawyers Jenno Antonio Villanueva and Rommel Lloyd Martinez.

Meanwhile, a certain Romeo Buhay was suspended for one year for allegedly acting as a “fixer” at the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Bacoor District Office and giving favor to a certain insurance company’s medical services.

Duterte said he will review the records of Buhay because he thinks he should be dismissed.

The DOTr also dismissed Joelito Mandaya, office head of LTO-Mati, Davao Oriental.

Others dismissed from the service were Ebitha Odilao-Rodriguez of Compostela Valley, Davao de Oro, and Mar Jose Magistrado, formerly assigned to LTO-Bicol.

Meanwhile, a certain Jose Graciano Robles was also suspended by the DOTr, but his case shall be reviewed as the President wants him dismissed.

At the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), one Jean Gunda was dismissed by the DOTr for grave misconduct. Duterte said the case constitutes bribery.

One Melanie Diaz was also suspended for allegedly receiving P200,000 in exchange for a franchise. “This is bribery. I am changing the penalty from suspension to dismissal,” Duterte said.

Also suspended was lawyer Samuel Jardin while Manalo Labor was dismissed by the DOTr.

Others dismissed from the DOTr were Edmundo Cabral as well as Gerardo del Rio, from the LTFRB; and Col. Vladimir Custer Kahulugan, LTFRB-Region V director, for bribery.

Andres Tabunda was also charged with falsification, when he made it appear that persons had participated in an act of proceeding when in fact they did not participate.

From the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp., which used to be under the DOTr before being transferred under the DND, dismissed from the service were Commodore Gilbert Rueras and Emmanuel Virtucio, chairperson-OTC, for bribery.

Ciriaco Bermejo, of the Office of Transportation Security, was also dismissed by the DOTr.

One Greg Arellano was charged for alleged involvement in a massive conversion of Chinese driver’s licenses.

“They allegedly processed and converted Chinese driver’s license to Philippine driver’s license based on spurious documents. They should be dismissed also,” the President said.

Others found guilty of illegal conversion of Chinese licenses were also dismissed by the Ombudsman, namely Erwin Susmerano and Francisco Ranches, assistant director of LTO Region IV-A.

The Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal of Joselito Caballero from the DOTr and the suspension of Oliver Todoc, also from DOTr.