Duterte hits gov't exec over alleged lavish lifestyle

PRESIDENT

Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday took a swipe at a government official who is purportedly enjoying a lavish lifestyle.

In a dinner with Philippine Air Force's Dragon Boat Team Tuesday, Duterte revealed that he is looking into reports that a public official not belonging to the executive branch allegedly stayed in expensive hotels and traveled via first class.

"There's an official here in the government whose travel is being reviewed. That person is not from my department, not the executive department," the President said in a speech delivered at Malacañang Palace.

"[That government official] is traveling abroad via first-class airplane [cabin]. And the room in the hotels where [that person] stayed is first class. One room used is a presidential suite. This will come out," he added.

Duterte did not divulge the name of the said government official but there was an insinuation that he made a passing reference to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who is subject to impeachment for allegedly violating the 1987 Constitution.

Earlier, advocacy groups Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution; and lawyer Larry Gadon sought Sereno's ouster for allegedly committing culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Gadon, in his petition, accused Sereno of committing corruption when she used public funds to "finance her extravagant and lavish lifestyle" by purchasing a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model amounting to P5.1 million.

He also claimed that Sereno was staying in "opulent" hotels when attending conferences in the Philippines and abroad, and flying on "business or first class."

Prior to Duterte's frustration over the government official's questionable lifestyle, the President reaffirmed his vow to rid his government of corruption.

"I will stop corruption. I fired several people now but I just refused to reveal their identities," he said.

In a chance interview on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella could not confirm if Duterte was referring to Sereno.

"I do not know about the official," he told reporters. "Let's just wait but we have to clarify the nature of such innuendo. Let's wait how it will unfold."