DESPITE the accusations of gambling operator Charlie "Atong" Ang linking him to gambling operations in the country, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II believes he still has President Rodrigo Duterte's trust.
"I believe so," Aguirre said when asked on Thursday by reporters if she still enjoys the trust of the President. "Pero nasa pangulo 'yan. I always serve at the pleasure of the President and kung di na ako karapat-dapat sa trust ng pangulo so be it."
"Sinasabi ko noon pa man di tayo kapit-tuko. Anytime na I lose the confidence of the president. I'm ready to go," he added.
Ang accused Aguirre and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. of manning the Small Town Lottery (STL) operations in the country and plotting to kill him over his operations of jai-alai through the Meridian Gaming Corporation.
Aguirre said he might discuss the allegations of Ang with the president on Monday's Cabinet meeting.
The president recently fired Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno over corruption allegations.
Two days after Sueno was fired an official from the agriculture sector, undersecretary Halmen Valdez was likewise sacked over issues on rice importation.
Before the two officials, Duterte on March ordered the dismissal of his friend, former National Irrigation Administration chief Peter Laviña due to allegations that he is asking money from contractors.
In a statement on March 26, the President said he has already fired 92 officials from different agencies and he will not be cowed in firing more government officials, even his friends, if they are found to be involved in corruption. (SunStar Philippines)