Philippines’ President, Duterte Sacks Minister Over Corruption Allegation

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has fired the interior minister, who oversaw the war on drugs, as infighting and corruption allegations rock his government. © AFP/File NOEL CELIS

By Oladipupo Mojeed with agency report

Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President has sacked the interior minister as infighting and corruption allegations rock his government.

According to the presidential spokesman, Ernesto Abella in a statement on Tuesday, Ismael Sueno, who supervised Duterte’s war on drugs that has left thousands dead, was fired on the spot at a cabinet meeting late Monday.

“The summary dismissal served as a warning that Duterte would not countenance any questionable or legally untenable decisions by any member of the cabinet,” Abella added.

He did not say what these decisions were, but added the sacking formed part of Duterte’s “drive for a trustworthy government by addressing issues like corruption”.

Sueno denies allegation of corruption

In a statement issued Monday, hours before his sacking, 69-year-old Sueno, vigorously denied any involvement in corruption, blaming other followers of Duterte for circulating such allegations against him.

“My advocacy against corruption has been strong. My belief is the same as President Duterte in fighting this. So this accusation against me is impossible,” said Sueno, a former provincial governor and city mayor.

According to Sueno, he was being badmouthed by three junior ministers in the Department of the Interior and Local Government, like him also appointed by Duterte.

When asked if Sueno might face further charges, Abella told reporters to wait for the president to take his subsequent actions.

Sueno’s sacking comes a month after Perfecto Yasay left his post as foreign minister after Congress ruled that he lied to them over his US citizenship.

Abella said the loss of another cabinet member was not a sign of trouble but proof that Duterte was serious about restoring trust in government.

Who replaces Sueno?

Abella did not say who would replace Sueno, though there has been speculation Duterte would appoint Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, son of the late Philippine dictator.

Former senator Marcos Jnr lost the vice presidential election last year but is contesting the outcome at an election tribunal.

In Congress, two other close Duterte allies, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Congressman Antonio Floirendo, have been publicly feuding for weeks with Duterte trying to stay out of the quarrel.

Alvarez has accused Floirendo, a key contributor in the Duterte election campaign, of corruption, but Floirendo denies the charge.

Duterte won his election by a landslide in May largely on his promise to launch a war on illegal drugs.

Although the campaign has proved popular at home, the president has faced international criticism for thousands of killings that human rights advocates say were carried out as part of the anti-drug initiative.

The government denies the allegations.

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