PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's decisiveness to stop corruption in government under his watch remains "resolute," Malacañang said on Wednesday, a day after alleged two corrupt-ridden public officials were dismissed from service.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte's latest firing of Undersecretary Ronald Flores and Assistant Secretary Yeshter Donn Baccay was a warning to all government officials that "no person is exempted from the administration’s high and exacting standards of honesty in public service."
"Their termination also underscores that the President remains resolute in stamping out corruption in the bureaucracy, which includes offices which are specialized in particular fields of governance," Panelo said in a statement.
"Like the war on drugs, the war on corruption must be fought unremittingly," he added.
Duterte announced Tuesday, November 27, his decision to axe Flores and Baccay, who both worked from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process's (Opapp) Support Services and Panama National Program Management Office, because of corruption allegations.
The two Opapp officials' alleged involvement in corruption had prompted Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza to resign from post.
READ: Dureza quits; 2 Opapp officials fired
Also on November 27, the President said he accepted "with sadness" the resignation of Dureza, who takes full responsibility for the wrongdoings committed by Flores and Baccay.
Panelo said the Palace lauded Dureza for assuming full responsibility by giving up his position.
He said Dureza's act shows the true "value of delicadeza and morality in governance."
"We commend the former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for taking full responsibility and issuing an apology under the principle of command responsibility for the transgressions committed by his two subordinates," the Palace official said.
"His resignation has set a concrete example and put a true meaning to the value of delicadeza and morality in governance. This is leadership by example," he added.
Panelo said the executive branch was grateful to have Dureza as the presidential peace adviser.
As presidential adviser on peace process, Dureza made great contributions to achieve peace in the country, Panelo added.
"We take this occasion to thank Sec. Dureza for the services he rendered to the nation, particularly under the Duterte administration, where he assisted the President in walking the extra mile in advancing peace for the good of our nation and all Filipinos," he said. (SunStar Philippines)