Duterte orders DAP president Elba Cruz to withdraw from post

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Elba Cruz to leave her position as her period of office already expired in June 2017. (Photo: Development Academy of the Philippines/Facebook)

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Elba Cruz to leave her position as her period of office had expired in June 2017.

In a letter from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Cruz is notified that the President has instructed to terminate her services as head of the department.

“Considering that your Term of Office expired on 30 June 2017 and that you have been serving the DAP Board in a holdover capacity, we now wish to inform you that, upon instructions of the President, your service in such holdover status is hereby discontinued effective immediately,” reads the letter dated December 18.

“To ensure uninterrupted delivery, you are hereby directed to turn over all official documents, papers and properties in your possession to the proper office of the DAP,” the letter added.

This order came after DAP employees called on the President to dismiss Cruz from her post, mentioning allegations of mismanagement, lack of “knowledge, temperament, and behavior” toward employees, violations of Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules, and frequent foreign travels in the eight months since she assumed office.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Chief Executive will look into the allegations against the DAP president.

“I’m sure the President will investigate this particular complaint. As you can see, the President does not take issues of corruption sitting down,” Roque said.

The Palace official, expressing his thoughts on Duterte’s penchant for terminating officials because of unnecessary or luxurious trips, said “I think the President has given a topmost priority to running after government officials who are engaged in junketing ‘no or ‘government junketeers.'”

Cruz was first appointed by the Chief Executive as a member of the DAP Board of Trustees in March. She then replaced former DAP president Antonio Kalaw Jr. who had held the position since 2006.