President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, May 19, said he would be firing two more members of the Cabinet.
In his speech during the opening ceremonies of the Philippine National Games 2018 at the Cebu City Sports Center, Duterte expressed his disappointment over some of his appointees for their performance.
The president, however, did not give any clue as to who he was referring to.
Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte ordered Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Assistant Secretary Tingagun Umpa of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to resign amid corruption speculations.
Roque said investigations conducted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission revealed that Macarambon allegedly intervened to allow smugglers of gold and jewelry pass Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Meanwhile, investigations led by the DPWH revealed that Umpa committed acts of corruption by “allegedly asking contractions in the ARMM area for certain percentages in projects awarded to these contractors.”
Duterte addressed his order for the two officials to resign in his speech and said Macarambon and Umpa were using his name and other members of the Duterte family including Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, Duterte’s children, and cousins to solicit funds.
“When we are in government, it should not be a source of money. Only those who do good should be in government. I was the one who appointed them. I ended up firing them,” Duterte said.
Duterte has been vocal about removing public officials from their posts who are involved in corrupt activities.
