Agrarian Reform execs next on Duterte’s chopping block

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will fire more corrupt government officials, this time from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

In a speech during the annual assembly of the Provincial Union of Leaders Against Illegality at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City last Tuesday night, Duterte expressed his exasperation over the slow-paced process in the conversion of agricultural lands into commercial under the agency.

“So if you are listening there at the conversion office (of DAR), better prepare, because you are fired,” he said, adding the officials involved in corruption would also face charges.

If they were not afraid of facing charges, the President said he would just have them killed for disrespecting his repeated calls for government officials to speed up the processes and deter from corrupt activities.

“Para mo akong ginagago. You take me as a stupid idiot,” Duterte said.

Duterte also took to task Agrarian Secretary John Castriciones for the issues hounding his agency.

“It took them two years to process the conversion of agricultural land to commercial,” Duterte said, noting that the documents were released in four days only after he asked his former special assistant Christopher Go to follow up the matter.

The President did not give further details on the issue he took up with Go, who accompanied him last Tuesday in Quezon.

Castriciones yesterday said he is open to any actions that will be taken by the President concerning corruption in his department.

“We will just be supporting the President on what he thinks is right for the department. Whatever it is that he deems is good for the agency, we will welcome,” said Castriciones.

Castriciones said he could not comment further on the issue and would just await the order from the President.

Duterte reiterated that he is keen on stopping corruption during his administration, citing why he implemented a rigodon at the graft-ridden Bureau of Customs where he appointed a number of military and police officials to instill discipline among the officials and employees.

Piqued by the prevalence of corruption, Duterte said he would not hesitate killing corrupt personnel and face the charges, if warranted, just to prove how serious he is in the campaign.

“Unless we put a stop to graft and corruption, believe me, even if there is another term, there can not be progress or development. It would always be a hanging factor for all of us,” he said.

Duterte maintained he does not care if he gets jailed, or dies along the way, as long as he puts the country in order – on the corruption front and the campaign against illegal drugs.

In the provincial capital, Duterte also wants to know if there are available government lands for distribution in Quezon. 

Duterte called on Castriciones to report to his office on his query over lands, which the government can distribute to the people.  – With Rhodina Villanueva