‘Hindi pa ako tapos sa inyo’: Duterte warns corrupt DPWH officials


Read his lips. It’s far from over.

President Duterte is not taking a respite from his crackdown against corruption in all offices of the government, especially at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

True enough, Duterte again bared the names of government personnel who were suspended and dismissed from service in a pre-recorded televised speech on Monday night.

In his public address, he read three more names of DPWH personnel who were allegely linked to wrongdoings such as corrupt practices.

Those mentioned by Duterte were Ramiro Cruz, district engineer in Bulacan 2nd District; Alfredo Hernandez, working in Bulacan’s chief construction section; and Armando Juan, Bulacan 2nd district project engineer. 

The list also included Noel Reyes, an administrative officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Instead of preventive suspension as what’s suggested, the President asked DPWH to dismiss “in the fastest possible time” the names he mentioned. 

“I'd like to issue a warning. Hindi pa tayo --- ako tapos sa DPWH. Hindi pa ako tapos sa inyo, kayong mga matagal na sa district engineer (I am not done with DPWH. I am not done with you who are longtime district engineer),” he said, noting even some of them are his friends.

Some of the charges against these government officials are serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, falsification of public documents, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the government. 

Frustration stemming from such charges led the President to curse at these personnel, asking them to leave government service.

“I do not need government workers na ganoon (like that),” Duterte stressed.