(UPDATED) - The head of Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the government agency that regulates and promotes the maritime industry in the country, has been removed from office over alleged frequent foreign trips.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a press conference Thursday, January 4, said Marina administrator Marcial Amaro III was fired after Marina employees complained that Amaro made 11 foreign trips in 2017 alone.
Roque, however, noted that upon investigation, Duterte learned from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that Amaro made a total of 24 trips from 2016 to 2017.
"(Duterte) has terminated the services of Mr. Marcial Q.C. Amaro, administrator of Marina. On December 22, the Office of the President received a complaint, purportedly coming from employees of the Marina, complaining that administrator Amaro has had 11 foreign trips in 2017 alone," Roque said in a press conference in Davao City.
"The Department of Transportation furnished the Office of the President with the list of travel of Mr. Amaro. It turns out that the complaint of the employees is wrong because while the employees said that Mr. Amaro made 11 trips in 2017 alone, the DOTr reported that Mr. Amaro in fact made 18 official travel(s) in 2017. In 2016, he had six or a total of 24 travels," he added.
Duterte earlier directed to delay the identification of the axed government executive.
Amaro is the first high-ranking government official fired in the first week of 2018.
Duterte has pledged to fire public officials tagged in or linked to any wrongdoings, in fulfillment of his campaign promise to rid the government of corruption.
Duterte's close allies - former Local Government secretary Ismael Sueño, former National Irrigation Administration chief Peter Laviña, former Information and Communications Technology secretary Rodolfo Salalima - were among those removed from office, after allegations of corruption were hurled against them.
In December 2017, the President also dismissed Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairperson Terry Ridon and four other commissioners over alleged junkets abroad.
Also last month, he told Development of the Philippines president Elba Cruz to vacate her post after she was accused of traveling abroad every month.
Roque stressed that the President would not tolerate "excessive" travels abroad.
"I'd like to highlight that all of the trips, except for one, are official. But the point of the President is we have to be selective in the trips that we will undertake and definitely, 24 travels (are) excessive," Roque said.
"We underscore the fact that previously, chair Terry Ridon was also terminated because of seven foreign travel(s). And if seven foreign travel(s) (were) deemed excessive by the President, 24 travels definitely (are) excessive by the President's standard," he added.
Roque said Amaro's dismissal proved that Duterte is "serious" in his directive to government officials to live a modest life and avoid unnecessary foreign trips.
"Let this be a reminder to all public officials that the President is serious in his mandate that they should live a modest life, that they should be true to their calling, and that they should avoid unnecessary trips," he said. (SunStar Philippines)