PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, January 15, admitted that he had ordered the dismissal of Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairperson Patricia Licuanan, who announced her resignation earlier Monday.
Duterte did not cite any reasons for Licuanan's dismissal, but emphasized on the rampant corruption in government when he made the revelation.
The President said that apart from Licuanan, "many will follow" as he takes the lead in getting rid of erring public officials.
"I have dismissed Licuanan today, the (chairperson) of Ched... and many will follow. Do not look at me as a saint. We are all the same, but I said, not so much about vices and everything, faults and maybe personal deficiencies. But money has not really been an issue," Duterte said in an event held in Davao City.
Earlier Monday, Licuanan believed it was high time to reason as she lamented the supposed "well-orchestrated" move of some of her critics to ensure that she would be "out of Ched."
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Representative Jericho Nograles earlier accused Licuanan of traveling abroad eight times in 2017 without Malacañang's nod.
Licuanan, however, insisted that the allegation hurled against her was "false and baseless."
Licuanan was the second government official sacked by Duterte this year.
On January 4, Malacañang announced that the President had dismissed former Maritime Industry Authority adminsitrator Marcial Amaro III because of the latter's alleged excessive foreign trips.
Duterte reiterated that he would beef up his fight against corrupt officials in government.
"This graft and corruption will remain. This is my message to all of us: Not during my time. Just give the Filipino a respite of about four years. Not during my watch. Please, not during my time," the President said, addressing himself to corrupt-ridden officials.
"I'm not attributing it to you. I am addressing myself to the nation. Not during my watch. Not during my time because you will be humiliated," he added. (SunStar Philippines)