UNDERSECRETARY Jesus Hinlo Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Government (DILG) vehemently denied the corruption allegations hurled against him and two other undersecretaries.
According to a report from Manila, Hinlo, along with Undersecretaries John Castriciones and Emily Padilla, is accused of irregularities by unnamed DILG officials and employees, who are also calling for their ouster.
Hinlo, in a phone interview with SunStar Bacolod Wednesday, June 21, stressed that the allegations against them are “false, but pure harassment.”
Last April, the three undersecretaries also wrote President Rodrigo Duterte a letter, accusing then DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno of corruption, which led to the latter’s dismissal.
Citing loss of trust and confidence, Duterte sacked Sueno after their Cabinet meeting on April 4 following the allegation that he enriched himself during the past months that he has been in office.
But Sueno dismissed the allegations against him as “black propaganda.”
Sueno admitted then having felt like "a sacrificial lamb" when he was fired by the President, but said he was willing to become the poster boy of the administration's campaign against corruption.
He also denied being involved in any corruption activities while heading to the DILG, even likening himself to Jesus Christ whom, he said, was also falsely accused of wrongdoings.
Sueno also clarified that he was not mad at Duterte for firing him as well as his three undersecretaries who he said conspired to oust him from his post.
Prior to Sueno’s ouster, he had been pushing for the retention of Negros Island Region (NIR).
His office prepared a “better and stronger” presentation about NIR to convince the President, and other Cabinet secretaries to retain the region.
With Sueno gone, Hinlo, a Negrense himself, continued the fight for the retention of NIR.
In late April, Hinlo submitted a memorandum in support to NIR to the President, who has yet to decide on the fate of the young region.