Ex-GSIS chief Aranas axed, says Duterte

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the 72nd Philippine Air Force Anniversary at the Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on July 2, 2019. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, July 5, said former Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Jesus Clint Aranas was axed, contrary to the earlier disclosure of Malacañang.

He confirmed in his speech during the inauguration of Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Complex in Alangalang, Leyte, saying he was just fighting corruption when he fired Aranas from his post.

“Sinabi ko lang kapag nanalo ako (What I have said was that when I won) I will deal with corruption. I am dealing with it until now. I just fired the GSIS president,” Duterte said.

His remarks came after Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a Palace briefing on Thursday denied that the Chief Executive asked Aranas to quit from the GSIS.

“The person who submitted the resignation letter states the reason why he is resigning, he said for personal reasons. I do not think we can dwell on the privacy of that person,” the Palace official said.

In his resignation letter tendered to the Office of the President on July 2, Aranas said he believes he had contributed to the advancement of the state-run pension fund during his time as its chief but did not state any reasons for his resignation.

“I resign, secure in the knowledge that I have unwaveringly advanced the interest of GSIS and its members in discharging the functions of the said office always in obeisance to all laws and never once compromising my integrity or that of the office I now relinquish,” Aranas said.

Aranas was appointed to head the GSIS in November 2017, replacing Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Meanwhile, the GSIS Board on Thursday has appointed a new-officer-in-charge, Roland Macasaet, upon the recommendation of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

More firings

The President also announced in his speech that he will be firing more officials at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) when he goes back to Manila.

“I will go for the Customs again. There will be a lot of dismissals I hope. And I try to really stop the corruption in the higher crust of government,” Duterte said.

He added that he would appoint military men into the bureau.

“I am just telegraphing. Then maybe ilagay ko na sa army talaga lahat ‘yang nasa ano (I would really put the Army there),” he said.

To recall, Duterte in October 2018 ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to temporarily take over the BOC in a bid to stop corruption and smuggling activities. He then clarified in November that he did not order the military to take over the functions of the BOC personnel.

[READ: Duterte: No order for military to take over BOC personnel’s functions]