As the purging of corrupt officials within the Bureau of Immigration (BI) continues, President Rodrigo Duterte pointed out that hiding the identity of those engaged in wrongdoing is not helpful.
Citing the controversial “Pastillas” scam, Pres. Duterte described the “syndicate” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as massive involving “almost all” which might result in “their dismissal, suspension, or exoneration if warranted.”
“Sabi ng batas na hindi ko dapat sabihan ‘yang mga kaso (The law says I should not disclose the cases). But I would like to take the higher ground. Anonymity does not help at all… My higher duty is really to inform the public. The public must know,” he stressed.
The Chief Executive also holds the same belief in handling suspects in the illegal drugs trade. He told law enforcers to avoid covering the faces of caught individuals, saying that those involved in the production of illegal drugs may be even be naked during the time of arrest.
“I don’t believe in that. The public must know. We owe it to them to tell them the truth… ‘Yung mga drug pusher, kailangan sabihin ko pangalan and mukha nila ipakita (That is why I also need to show the names and faces of drug pushers),” he added.
“My take is that they should be exposed in public. Lalo pusher, para hindi na mag-ulit. Bakit mo taguin? (Especially the pusher so they won’t do it again. Why would you hide them?),” he concluded.
As for the publicly named BI officials and personnel involved in the pastillas scam, the President said that he has “a feeling” that they will all be dismissed and many posts will be left vacant which may turn it into a “ghost office. – PTV News Online
