President Rodrigo Duterte has warned that the suspension penalty of government personnel facing complaints on corruption may be elevated to dismissal from service.
He cited in his recent public address the case of a certain Romeo Buhay who was suspended for his alleged involvement in “fixing activity” at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Bacoor District Office.
“Romeo Buhay, preventive suspension lang (only). Greg Arellano… Bakit ganito lang (Why is it just this)? They are — the charge is — they were involved in a massive and illegal conversion of Chinese driver’s license. They allegedly processed and converted Chinese driver’s license to Philippine driver’s license based on spurious documents. They should be dismissed also,” he stated.
The names announced by the president on Tuesday from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) which includes Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) personnel who allegedly committed bribery and grave misconduct, including a Regional Director in Region V.
“Itong si (This) Melanie Diaz, suspended for allegedly receiving 200,000 in exchange for a franchise. This is bribery. I am changing the penalty from suspension to dismissal,” he stated.
“Maski na malakad ninyo na suspension lang pagdating dito sa opisina ko, I can reverse any decision pababa except the Ombudsman (Even if you manage to reduce it to suspension, when it comes to my office, I can reverse any decision except the Ombudsman),” he warned.
“Kung dito sa akin, ‘pag basta may pera, conversion ganoon, dismissed kayo (As long as there is money, conversion, you are dismissed). I will reverse the decision from…suspension to dismissal,” he added. – PTV Balita Ngayon, PTV News Online
