MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte asked two assistant secretaries allegedly involved in corruption to resign or get fired, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.
They were Moslemen T. Macarambon Sr. of the Department of Justice and Tingagun A. Umpa of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“The President has advised two assistant secretaries to tender their resignations or face termination for corruption,” Roque told a Palace briefing before joining Duterte in a sendoff ceremony for Filipino scientists who will conduct maritime research at the Philippine Rise.
Macarambon “has regularly been intervening on behalf of suspected smugglers of gold and other precious jewelry at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” Roque said, citing investigation by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra already asked Macarambon to resign last month.
Umpa, on the other hand, allegedly “asked from contractors in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) for certain percentages from projects awarded to [them],” as shown by a DPWH investigation, Roque said.
Umpa allegedly committed “grave abuse of power” and “acts of corruption,” among others, said the spokesman.
Asked if Macarambon and Umpa knew about their forced resignation, Roque said: “I hope by now they know.”
Duterte first mentioned his intention to fire two more assistant secretaries at the wake of the late former senator Edgardo J. Angara, said Roque.
Malacañang is leaving it to the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue cases against the two assistant secretaries.
The Ombudsman may use the results of investigations by the Justice department and the PACC in its own investigation, Roque said.
Created by Duterte in October last year, the PACC has the power “to directly assist the President in investigating and/or hearing administrative cases primarily involving graft and/or corruption against all presidential appointees.”
Moreover, it has the “power, on a complaint, or motu proprio, and concurrently with the Office of the Ombudsman, to hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports and information in administrative cases against all presidential appointees.”
The PACC has received 400 complaints so far, Roque said. (PNA)
