By Argyll Geducos
President Duterte said that he will name the officials he will fire due to corruption before he flies to China to attend the second Belt and Road Forum.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (REY BANIQUET/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement during the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in Bacolod City, less than two weeks before he makes his fourth visit to China since becoming president.
In his speech, Duterte said that he is only fulfilling his promise to rid the government of corruption.
"Lahat pinangako ko ginawa ko. Corruption medyo mabagal na talaga. Ngayon pag ikaw nasa corruption, alis ka (I am doing everything I said. Corruption is now slowing down. Now if you are involved in corruption, you will really get the boot)," he said.
"Next week when I fly back to report to work before I leave for China, marami akong tatanggalin (I will really fire a number of them)," he added.
Duterte reiterated that he is favoring no one when it comes to corruption, adding that even his closest allies were fired by him because they were linked to corruption.
"Putang ina sinabi ko na sa inyo, magkaibigan tayo, magbayad ako ng utang na loob, bigyan kita ng trabaho. Pero ang pinakausap ko sa 'yo noon na 'wag lang kayong pumasok sa corruption. 'Wag ka nang magtanong kung bakit (You sons of whores, we are friends. I will repay my debt to you by giving you work but I ask you one thing: Do not get involved in corruption. Do not ask why)," he said.
"Basta sa panahon ko 'wag 'yan. Ayaw ko. In three years kung gusto mo... Ilang Cabinet members na ba ang pinatalsik ko? Lima, anim (Avoid that during my time. I really hate it. In three years if you want then go. How many Cabinet members have I fired already? Five? Six)?" he added.
Over the weekend, Duterte revealed that he will be firing more government officials because of corruption. While not naming them, Duterte said that making people return to process their permits is already a form of corruption.
"To me, that is corruption. Nothing else. Ang meaning niyan (What that means) is you want money so he has to go back and forth," he said.
"That’s a warning. Pati dito sa baba, kayong mga director, lahat (Even for you in the lower ranks, the directors, everyone), national agencies. You only have 15 days to process," he added.
Duterte then said that suspension and mere reprimanding will not work anymore.
"Ang corruption mahirap tanggalin eh. Hiyain mo, saktan mo. The only way to do it is hiyain mo tapos saktan mo. Otherwise, wala. Suspension nandiyan balik (Corruption is so hard to eliminate. You have to shame them and hurt them. That's the only way. Otherwise, it will not work. You suspend them and they will just come back)," he said.
Malacañang earlier said that President Duterte would be announcing himself the officials that he would be firing due to corruption.
Duterte earlier warned that the country is failed to doom if the government fails to address the corruption looming within.