Duterte says he will sack economic official due to incompetence

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the officers of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines at the Malacañan Palace on September 10, 2019. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Another government official is set to be dismissed from post, not because of corruption allegations but for being incompetent at work, President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Tuesday, September 10.

“May isa pa akong tanggalin (I will dismiss another one). Though she is not corrupt, but she is not in parity with the others sa (in terms of) performance,” Duterte said in his speech during the 2019 Outstanding Government Workers Awards rites in Malacañang.

The President refused to name the official but said that she is handling an economic office.

In an interview with reporters after the oath-taking of newly-elected officers of the Malacañang Press Corps, Duterte said he found the official’s performance ‘really lacking.

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“I mean hindi lang siya kasing smart ng others (She is not smart as others),” he said.

“But this particular position would need somebody who is — ‘yung mas… ‘yung mas marunong pa (who is more capable),” he added.

Prior to this announcement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Chief Exectuive fired Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia.

Panelo said that Goitia’s dismissal was “pursuant to the President’s continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption” and “to ensure that public officials and employees conduct themselves in a manner worthy of public trust.”

During his speech, the President did not further elaborate what corrupt activities Goitia was linked in but said that the latter has been “telling people he will be appointed [as] Customs collector, and already was collecting.”

Goitia, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to Duterte for entrusting him to serve as the PRRC’s executive director.

“I will remain fully supportive of the President’s reform and development agenda even as l start to embark on my life’s new journey,” he wrote in his Facebook post.