More corrupt public servants will be next on President Duterte's chopping block.
The President declared Thursday that he hated corruption and vowed to continue to weed out the rotten officials in government. Several immigration, customs and public works personnel have already been dismissed over corruption allegations, according to the President.
"'Yung corruption ayaw ko. Iyong lahat ng nasa airport naka-itim na immigration, I fired all of them, 43; Customs, 73; DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), karamihan diyan 'yong mga district engineer (I don't like corruption. All the immigration personnel in black at the airport, I fired all of them, 43; Customs, 73, and the DPWH, mostly district engineers) and I am gunning for more," Duterte said during the inauguration of a new port operations building in Dumaguete City Thursday, March 11.
"Do not blame me. I told you in the beginning that I hate corruption. Kung mag-corrupt kayo, pati ako madale (If you become corrupt, I will also be hit) and that's a problem," he said.
The President took pride of his hometown Davao City where corruption is not tolerated. He recalled his relentless efforts to clean up the city during his term as mayor. Duterte was a long-time mayor of Davao City before being elected President in 2016.
"Look what is Davao today. It's in a far place called Mindanao. It's a troubled land but we are thriving. That’s because walang corruption doon (there's no corruption there). Magaganda 'yong daan (The roads are good)," he said.
Last month, the President admitted that eliminating corruption was "impossible," but pledged to run after the corrupt in the remainder of his term. He said the public should not expect him to leave an entirely clean bureaucracy, saying such feat "cannot really be achievable." Duterte's six-year term will end next year.