INCOMING President Rodrigo Duterte warned corrupt government officials and personnel that they will be demoted if they get caught for the first time.

Duterte made the statement during his victory celebration at the South Road Properties (SRP) Saturday night.

He said that aside from running after drug lords and illegal drug pushers, he is determined to eradicate corruption in all government agencies.

He urged honest government personnel to defy any illegal order from their corrupt bosses.

Duterte also said he doesn’t want to see long lines of clients at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Bureau of Immigration (BI), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and other government agencies.

“I will personally visit government agencies that are listed as corrupt offices because I want to punish those who erred against the people,” Duterte said.

He said that the chief of government offices whose subordinates are always the subject of complaints from the public will be fired under the policy of command responsibility.

Direct lines

“I will set up at least twelve direct lines where people can call me directly 24 hours a day. You (corrupt officials and employees) better stop it because I will humiliate you in public. Corruption on tanim-bala must be stopped,” Duterte said.

Duterte said that transactions with 200 signatories must be reduced to only five signatories. Transactions must be approved as early as within 24 hours and shall not go beyond 30 days.

He said some corrupt officials delayed public transactions so they can collect grease money.

“If the public will report it to me, either that corrupt official or employee will be dismissed from the service or will be jailed,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, twelve mayors in the Visayas (Regions 6, 7 and 8) who are officials of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) have signed a manifesto of support for the incoming administration.

Mayors from different political parties also expressed support for Duterte’s appointee, businessman Michael Dino, as presidential assistant for the Visayas.

Signatories

Those who signed the manifesto were: Mayor Leonardo Javier Jr., LMP-Leyte Chapter and LMP national president; Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante, LMP-Cebu; Mayor Gene Fuentes, LMP-Aklan; Mayor Niel Tupas III, LMP-Iloilo; Mayor Jonathan Tan, LMP-Antique; Mayor Cresente Chavez Jr., LMP-Guimaras; Mayor David Albert Lacson, LMP-Negros Occidental; Mayor Dedan Villa, LMP-Siquijor; Mayor Percival Ortillo Jr., LMP-Samar; Mayor Bentham dela Cruz, LMP-Negros Oriental; Mayor Emiliana Villacarillo, LMP-Eastern Samar; and Mayor Roberto Loquinte, LMP-Southern Leyte.

The manifesto stated that the 2016 national elections have been concluded and the winning president has appointed Michael Dino as his presidential assistant for the Visayas.

“This is a sincere expression of our trust and support for the programs of the new administration and the incoming presidential assistant for the Visayas,” read the manifesto.

Earlier, Diamante said he supported Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs because Tuburan will be in peace if illegal drug is eradicated.