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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Eliminate corruption in government? That's impossible, Duterte says

Eliminate corruption in government? That's impossible, Duterte says

Published Feb 25, 2021 12:16 pm

Attaining a corruption-free government is impossible, President Duterte conceded Wednesday despite his housecleaning efforts.

(SIMEON CELI/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

The President admitted facing an uphill battle against corruption but vowed to use the remainder of his term to weed out public servants involved in irregularities. Duterte will end his six-year term in June 2022.

"As I have promised the nation, I said I would dedicate the last remaining months of my stay in the Office of the President going after corrupt people. So that by the time na ano, maminus-minus na," Duterte said in a televised address Wednesday, Feb. 24

"I cannot --- do not expect me to entirely clean as a pristine clean the bureaucracy. That is impossible and cannot really be achievable," he added.

Although the anti-corruption campaign would be difficult, Duterte gave himself a pat on the back for the efforts to clean up the government so far. In recent months, he has ordered the dismissal of several officials implicated in corruption and other irregularities.

"Pero as we go along our way, marami na tayong --- talagang itong corruption (but as we go along our way, we made many gains against corruption)," he said.

Duterte made the remarks before reading aloud a list of Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) personnel dismissed from service over various offenses. Three of the five PDEA personnel mentioned by the President faced complaints related to grave misconduct. The two others were accused of alleged extortion and drug use, respectively.

Duterte also pushed for the dismissal of any government personnel implicated in facilitating the release of a drug suspect, believing that "money" was involved. "If you are bribing or you are in the take that you can be bribed, you should not be there in the service at all," he said.

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