Duterte sacks OCD official, accepts Rio's resignation from DICT
Published May 22, 2020 09:17 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte has fired the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) assistant secretary Kristoffer James Purisima due to loss of trust and confidence, Malacañang announced.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) assistant secretary Kristoffer James Purisima (left); DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr.
(MANILA BULLETIN) In an interview with GMA's Unang Hirit, Roque said Purisima was no longer with the OCD effective immediately. He added President Duterte has yet to name Purisima's replacement. "Tinanggal po sa pwesto si Assistant Secretary Kristoffer Toby Purisima ng OCD (OCD assistant secretary Purisima was relieved from his post) for lack of trust and confidence," he said Friday morning. According to Roque, Purisima was involved in the government’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis and other calamities. "Yung opisina po niya at the forefront of providing assistance 'pag meron pong mga man-made calamities at meron ding papel ang opisina niya dito sa COVID-19 dahil kabahagi po sila sa government response (His office is at the forefront of providing assistance when there are man-made calamities. They also have a role in our COVID-19 response efforts)," he said. Rio resigns Meanwhile, Roque likewise confirmed that President Duterte has accepted the resignation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. "Tinanggap na rin po yung resignation ni Undersecretary Rio kasi nga po Pebrero pa niya sinumite ang kanyang resignation (The President has accepted Undersecretary Rio's resignation which was submitted last February)," he said in an interview over DZMM. Roque extended the Palace's gratitude to Rio for his invaluable services to the nation and wished him well in all his future endeavors. "Nagpapasalamat po ang buong gobyreno at ang Presidente sa tapat na paninilbihan ni Secretary Rio (The government and the President thank Secretary Rio for his service)," he said. "Siya po ay talagang competent at talaga naman pong mapagkakatiwalaan at wala pong bahid ang kanyang karakter (He was truly competent, trustworthy, and with an unquestionable character)," he added. It was earlier reported that Rio, who headed the agency before the appointment of DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan, stepped down from his post due to the Department's questionable disbursements of confidential funds amounting to P300 million. However, in an interview with ABS-CBN, Rio said his resignation was not due to an alleged rift between him and Honasan, nor the alleged confidential fund. He said it was because he could not work with the new officials working with Honasan.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) assistant secretary Kristoffer James Purisima (left); DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr.(MANILA BULLETIN) In an interview with GMA's Unang Hirit, Roque said Purisima was no longer with the OCD effective immediately. He added President Duterte has yet to name Purisima's replacement. "Tinanggal po sa pwesto si Assistant Secretary Kristoffer Toby Purisima ng OCD (OCD assistant secretary Purisima was relieved from his post) for lack of trust and confidence," he said Friday morning. According to Roque, Purisima was involved in the government’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis and other calamities. "Yung opisina po niya at the forefront of providing assistance 'pag meron pong mga man-made calamities at meron ding papel ang opisina niya dito sa COVID-19 dahil kabahagi po sila sa government response (His office is at the forefront of providing assistance when there are man-made calamities. They also have a role in our COVID-19 response efforts)," he said. Rio resigns Meanwhile, Roque likewise confirmed that President Duterte has accepted the resignation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. "Tinanggap na rin po yung resignation ni Undersecretary Rio kasi nga po Pebrero pa niya sinumite ang kanyang resignation (The President has accepted Undersecretary Rio's resignation which was submitted last February)," he said in an interview over DZMM. Roque extended the Palace's gratitude to Rio for his invaluable services to the nation and wished him well in all his future endeavors. "Nagpapasalamat po ang buong gobyreno at ang Presidente sa tapat na paninilbihan ni Secretary Rio (The government and the President thank Secretary Rio for his service)," he said. "Siya po ay talagang competent at talaga naman pong mapagkakatiwalaan at wala pong bahid ang kanyang karakter (He was truly competent, trustworthy, and with an unquestionable character)," he added. It was earlier reported that Rio, who headed the agency before the appointment of DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan, stepped down from his post due to the Department's questionable disbursements of confidential funds amounting to P300 million. However, in an interview with ABS-CBN, Rio said his resignation was not due to an alleged rift between him and Honasan, nor the alleged confidential fund. He said it was because he could not work with the new officials working with Honasan.