Another government official got the ax recently as President Duterte sustained his campaign against corruption.
The President did not the name the sacked official but admitted that his latest decision was triggered by complaints from the private sector.
"I just fired a high government official," the President said in a television interview with religious leader Apollo Quiboloy Tuesday evening, June 8. "May sinibak ako noong isang araw (I dismissed someone the other day)."
Asked by Quiboloy about the identity of the official, the President did not name the person and instead explained that there were some "private complainants."
"‘Di naman puputok ‘yan kung walang pumipiyak eh (It won't explode if nobody complained)," he said.
Duterte urged the complainants to pursue the case against the concerned official, adding he could not care less if the official ends up in jail.
"I give you the advice that if you want to file cases, go ahead. Sabi it will reflect into my sa aking administrasyon (in my administration). Eh reflect ka nang reflect, tutal basta kulong ka doon wala akong pakialam (Even if it reflects, I don't care as long as you land in jail)," he added.
In the same interview, Duterte has affirmed his no-mercy approach in fighting corruption in government, citing the dismissal of dozens of officials.
READ: With PH losing billions to corruption, Duterte threatens to make wayward officials ‘eat money’
He noted that over 40 immigration personnel have been relieved from their posts after alleged involvement in the pastillas bribery scam. Almost 70 personnel in the Bureau of Customs have been "terminated," he added.
"Kung ayaw maniwala ng tao na ginawa namin bahala kayo basta kami hindi man kami kailangan magyabang sa trabaho namin, basta ako sa corruption talagang yayariin kita (If the people don’t want to believe what we’ve done, it’s up to them. We don’t have to boast our work. As long as there is corruption I will catch you),” he said.
The President previously admitted the anti-corruption campaign was an uphill climb, but he vowed to step up the housecleaning of the bureaucracy towards the end of his term. In his recent public address, Duterte has read aloud aloud the names of officials either suspended or dismissed from office due to various offenses.