President Rodrigo Duterte is unimpressed by the accomplishments of the son of the richest Filipino in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because corruption has flourished under his watch in the last four years.
Duterte made his feelings known in a briefing Monday night when he ranted against his losing fight against corruption especially in the DPWH which has rendered him and other government officials inutile.
” I have made a pledge if I remember two sessions, three sessions ago, that I will concentrate the last remaining years of my term fighting corruption kasi hanggang ngayon hindi humihina, lumalakas pa lalo. Para na tuloy naging inutil ang mga opisyal ng bayan na wala talagang magawa with the onslaught of corruption,” said Duterte.
Duterte said he has ordered his anti-corruption task force to train their guns on the pervasive corruption gripping the DPWH.
“Let me state here and now that I have nothing against Secretary (Mark) Villar.
He is one of the hardworking at maraming accomplishments, si Secretary Villar.
But you know, accomplishments alone to me should not suffice,” said Duterte.
Duterte, however, fell short of firing Mark for leaving corruption unchecked under his nose. “Hindi na kay Secretary Villar, because it’s not his job to be running after crooks,” said Duterte who previously argued that Mark “has lots of money, he does not need to steal.”
Mark’s father, former senator Manny Villar, was one of the biggest backers of Duterte when he ran for president in 2016.
Duterte warned that he would make sure that people won’t brand him as useless in his war against corruption.
“Sabi ko nga itong presidency hindi naman inutil kasi kung inutil ako, aalis na ako dito, ibigay ko na sa iba. Hindi po ako naniniwala na wala akong magawa. May magawa ako. Hindi naman siguro to eradicate corruption in its totality.
But I think kami, Cabinet members, nandito man sila nakikinig, in our own — not small — but in our dedication, we would come up a very strong stand against corruption,” said Duterte.
“So huwag ninyo akong lokohin. Kung naging inutil man ako noon, maybe we were too busy looking for money.
Ngayon na may kaunting may maipakita kami sa inyo…so it behooves upon me to see to it na itong corruption mahinto kung hindi, at least maputol na nang kaunti.
So we are expanding the investigation sa corruption sa agriculture, with special focus sa DPWH,” he added.
