THE resignation of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Rodolfo Salalima was expected as he was among the two secretaries that President Rodrigo Duterte wanted replaced as he had earlier told SunStar Davao.

He named these two secretaries in a conversation at his house last August 27.

Specifically for Salalima, he said, "Mahirap kasi, lumalabas na ang conflict of interest."

Salalima was the former lead counsel of Globe Telecom.

Duterte did not mention anything about this afterwards during his public statements and appearances.

But last Thursday, September 21, Malacañang announced that Salalima has resigned because of personal and work-related reasons.

In a press conference during his fifth visit to Marawi City on Thursday, the President also confirmed Salalima's resignation.

Duterte said he was now scouting for someone who would replace Salalima in the DICT.

In a report by a national daily about Salalima's assembly with DICT employees last Friday, September 22, as he was all set to leave the department, he pointed to corruption and interference as his reasons for resignation.

He was said to have vague references to favors that he rejected in order to do the right thing in his stint as the DICT chief. (With SunStar Philippines)