Digong: More heads to roll

DAVAO CITY – Disheartened that he may have to pass judgment anew on close friends, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Thursday that he may announce the firing of another appointee when he returns to Malacañang Palace in Manila.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Davao River Bridge Widening Project here, Duterte said might have to let go of another appointee, as he expressed disappointment that friends, who have supported him when he was still mayor of this city, have turned out to be corrupt.

“That has always been my warning and so sali lahat (to all). I might fire another one pagbalik ko sa Malacañang (when I return to Malacañang). And sadly lahat ‘yung halos karamihan (almost all) were my appointees and my friends and who were with me during the mayorship days,” he said.

Last May 21, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced that Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Tolentino was axed for talking to a presidential sister regarding a government project.

The President reiterated his warning to all government officials to keep his family out of any government transaction.

Duterte said Tolentino tried to talk to his sister about the muli-billion peso Mindanao Railway System.

Duterte had earlier advised Justice Assistant Secretary Moslemen T. Macarambon Sr. and Public Works Assistant Secretary Tingagun A. Umpa to resign from their respective posts due to their alleged involvement in corruption based on an investigation conducted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).