Duterte fires Pasig River rehab body head
Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:44:32 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia due to allegations of corruption, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the reason for the termination of Goitia’s appointment was in line with the President’s “continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption.”
“The Palace announces the termination of the appointment of Mr. Jose Antonio E. Goitia as the executive director of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission,” Panelo said.
“The termination is made 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,” he added.
Panelo advised Goitia, who was appointed by the President in 2017, “to turn over all official documents, papers and properties in his possession to the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administrative Services of the Commission.”
“We hope that this shall serve as another example that this administration does not — and will never — tolerate corrupt practices in the bureaucracy and in public service,” he added.
The termination came days after Duterte signed Executive Order 90, transferring the chairmanship of the rehabilitation body to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from the Department of Budget and Management.
The PRRC was formed through an executive order signed by former president Joseph Estrada on Jan. 6, 1999.
Under the Estrada-era order, the budget secretary and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager shall exercise co-chairmanship of the commission.
The MMDA, under Duterte’s latest order, will retain co-chairmanship of the PRRC.