Former drugs board chair fired over corruption charges
FORMER Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairperson Dionisio Santiago was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte because of corruption allegations hurled against him, Malacañang said on Monday, November 20.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte "let go" of Santiago because the latter was accused of "using taxpayers' money for junket abroad."
Roque, citing a complaint filed before the Office of the President, said Santiago also allegedly brought with him his "mistress" and "select, favorite" employees of DDB.
"General Santiago was let go by the President, not only because of his statements on the mega drug rehab center being a mistake. He was also let go because of the complaints that General Santiago was using taxpayers' money for junket abroad," Roque told a press conference.
Roque said that Santiago was also accused of receiving a house from slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, who was killed during an antidrug operation.
Filing of possible criminal cases would be up to the Office of the Ombudsman.
"It's ultimately the Ombudsman that conducts the preliminary investigation," Roque said.
Santiago earlier confirmed that he was asked by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to take a graceful exit following his adverse remark about the construction of a mega drug rehabilitation facility in Nueva Ecija.
In an interview on November 8, Duterte admitted that he was offended by Santiago's "incongruous" statement that it was a wrong move for the government to build a 100-squaremeter mega drug rehabilitation center.
"He ( Santiago) made a statement that it is a waste of money, that it is not a right approach. You know, you saw him in the previous administration. He was there. Why did he not do anything?" the President said.
"He came up with a very incongruous statement that I was offended. He could have asked me for an audience and tell me all about it. I appointed you not to issue statements to the press. I appointed you to tell me what the country's problems are and make recommendations on what should I do if I fall short. You do not go open to the press and start to blabber," he added.
Santiago, a retired general who once headed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was the director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency prior to his appointment as DDB chairman.