Two days after firing Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Wednesday to dismiss more officials tagged in corruption even if the allegations are not true.
The latest official to be axed was a holdover undersecretary who reviewed the decision of the National Food Authority to deny rice importation.
“I will continue to fire people, the first whiff, maamoy ko lang, maski na hindi totoo (if I smell something, even if it is not true), you’re out,” Duterte said during an agriculture event in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
“I was appalled that an undersecretary, they reviewed the decision of (NFA administrator) Jason Aquino denying importation… and it was appealed in Malacañan. Filed in the Office of the President,” he added.
“Sabi ko, ‘Anong mukha ko na iharap ko sa farmers (I said ‘how do I face the farmers)? Why would we allow importation to compete with local product?’ Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko mabasa anong ginawa nilang rason (Until now, I cannot figure out their reason for doing that). Of course, hindi natuloy dahil binara ko (it did not push through because I stopped it).”
Duterte did not name names but Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol later on said that the dismissed official was Halmen Valdez.
“On my way here, I was about to land, I said ‘Call Malacañang. She’s fired. So she’s second. There are two more undersecretaries,” the president said.
“At the end of the day, mamaya, meron nang mga lima (there about five) in a week. Kaya hindi ako magda-dalawalang isip. Maski kaibigan kita (I won’t think twice, even if you are my friend),” he added.
NFA Administrator Aquino himself was facing serious disciplinary sanctions over his repeated defiance of Executive Order No. 1, the NFA Council’s decision to extend rice importation under the minimum access volume scheme, in March.
“The NFA administrator has actively refused to implement the lawful orders of the NFA Council and directives of the CabSec (Cabinet Secretary) and even released a statement countering the council’s decision that the MAV has been extended to March 31,” Evasco said then.
Si Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Reina Valdez ang tinutukoy ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na babaeng undersecretary na kanyang sinibak sa puwesto dahil sa kwestyunableng importasyon ng bigas.
Ayon kay Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, sinabi sa kanya ng pangulo na si Valdez nga ang nasibak sa puwesto.
Si Valdez ay may hold over capacity na nakatalaga sa Office of the Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco.
Ibig sabihin, appointee pa si Valdez ni dating Pangulong Benigno Aquino III.
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