Duterte fires urban poor commission execs

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the firing of all commissioners of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced Tuesday.

“The President stated two grounds — number one, it is, according to him, a collegial body, and they have not met as a collegial body, and number two, the commissioners are notorious for junkets abroad,” Roque said in a press briefing.

He reiterated that the Duterte administration is serious on its drive against corruption.

Roque initially said that the chief executive was set to “abolish” the urban poor commission.

An hour later, Roque clarified that Duterte will “fire all commissioners of PCUP and not abolish it.”

In his speech delivered during the 84th anniversary celebration of the Department of Labor and Employment in Malolos, Bulacan on December 9, Duterte hinted he will fire an entire commission over corruption issues.

PCUP is currently chaired by former Kabataan party-list representative Terry Ridon.

For his part, Ridon thanked Duterte for the opportunity to serve the country, but said the agency’s record “can speak for itself.”

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 82 dated Dec. 8, 1986, PCUP was established to serve as the “direct link” of the urban poor to the government in policy formulation and program implementation.

One of its functions is to set up a consultative mechanism to provide a forum for continuing dialogue between the government and the urban poor.

It is also tasked to accredit legitimate urban poor organizations for purposes of representation and to review existing legislations, policies and programs relating to the urban poor. (PNA)