Duterte fires Pasig River Rehab Commission exec

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia over alleged corruption.

“Itong PRRC (This PRRC official), I just dismissed him,” Duterte said in his speech during the 2019 Outstanding Government Workers Award ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday night.

Before his speech, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also announced Goitia’s termination in a statement.

“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 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.

He stressed that the sacking of Goitia and other Cabinet and government officials shows that there are no sacred cows in the Duterte administration.

“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,” Panelo said.

On Aug. 28, Duterte signed Executive Order 90 transferring the chairmanship of the PRRC to the Department of Natural Resources (DENR).

The EO emphasized that

“there is a need for close coordination and oversight of all ongoing efforts of the national government relative to the cleanup and rehabilitation of major waterways in Metro Manila.”

The newly-organized commission will be chaired by the DENR Secretary or his duly authorized representative and co-chaired by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair.

The members of the commission include the secretaries of the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Budget and Management, Tourism, Transportation, Finance, Trade and Industry, National Defense, Interior and Local Government, Human Settlements and Urban Development, and the Office of the Executive Secretary. (PNA)