Duterte orders DOJ, DPWH ASecs to resign over alleged corruption

FILE: Two assistant secretaries from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to leave their posts due to their alleged involvement in corruption, the Palace said on Tuesday, May 15. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Two assistant secretaries from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to leave their posts due to their alleged involvement in corruption, the Palace said on Tuesday, May 15.

“The President has advised two assistant secretaries to tender their resignations or face termination for corruption,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press conference.

The two presidential appointees that the President was referring to were Assistant Secretaries Moslemen Macarambon Sr. from the DOJ and Tingagun Ampaso Umpa from the DPWH.

Citing the investigation conducted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Roque revealed that Macarambon “has regularly been intervening on behalf of suspected smugglers of gold and other precious jewelry at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA.”

This development came after the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in a press statement on May 12, said it arrested one of its personnel at the NAIA Terminal 3, along with two other passengers for allegedly conspiring to smuggle P3 million worth of jewelry.

In the case of Umpa, the spokesman said, “Investigation conducted by the DPWH indicates that Asec Umpa committed grave abuse of power and may have committed also acts of corruption, among others.”

Roque noted that DPWH has issued sworn statements where Umpa “allegedly asked from contractors in the ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] area for certain percentages from projects awarded to these contractors.”

Asked if the Palace would file corruption cases against the two officials, Roque said that they would leave it to the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Bagama’t mayroon pong imbestigasyon na ginawa ang Department of Justice at saka ang Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission na pupuwede pong gamitin ng Ombudsman sa kanilang mga imbestigasyon (While the Department of Justice and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission have their own investigations, the Ombudsman can use this for its investigation),” he stressed.

The Palace official further said that the PACC is investigating 400 complaints against other government officials.

This is not the first nor the second time Duterte has removed high-ranking officials engaged in corruption.

The President previously axed former Interior Secretary Israel “Mike” Sueno, former anti-poverty chief Terry Ridon, then National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Peter Tiu Laviña, former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chief Dionisio Santiago, among others.

Just last week, Duterte said he would fire another government official as part of his effort to eradicate corruption under his administration.