PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, reiterated that his zero tolerance for corruption remains the key policy of his administration.
In his last three years in office, the President pledged to go after government workers who are involved in any unlawful activities.
He made the commitment as he lamented that corruption "continues" and remains "pervasive."
"I have fired or caused the resignation of more than a hundred officials and appointees of government," Duterte said during his fourth State of the Nation Address delivered before the Joint Session of Congress on July 22, 2019.
"Without regard to relationship and friendship and alliance, there is no sacred cow as the same goes in my administration," he added.
He acknowledged the pervasive spread of corruption in government despite his crackdown against erring public officials and employees.
Just more than a week prior to his fourth Sona, Duterte placed 64 personnel of Bureau of Customs (BOC) under floating status because of their supposed link to corruption.
He also directed the filing of administrative charges against the allegedly corrupt BOC officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Frustrated by the unabated corruption in government, Duterte has sought to take drastic measures against public servants linked to irregularities.
He said that in his remaining years as the country's president, there are still many corrupt officials who will face dismissal from service.
"[I] fight corruption still until now. However much is to be done in ensuring our responsiveness to the people's needs, based on the complaints received by this contact center Bayan. That's in my office," Duterte said. (SunStar Philippines)