5 PCUP officials na junketeers sinibak ni Digong

SINIBAK ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang limang commissioners ng Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), kasama si chairman Terry Ridon, dahil notoryus ang mga opisyal sa pagiging “junketeers.”

“The President stated two grounds behind his decision, number one, it is — according to him, a collegial body and they have not met as a collegial body. And number two, that the commissioners are notorious for junkets abroad,” ayon kay Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.

Aniya, walang lugar sa administrasyong Duterte ang katiwalian.

“So this kind of work performance has no place in the Duterte administration. We reiterate we are serious about the drive against corruption in government,” dagdag niya.

“I think the President has given a topmost priority to running after government officials who are engaged in junketing ‘no or ‘government junketeers’, that’s the correct term,” sabi ni Roque.

Sa kabila nito, nagpasalamat si Ridon sa oportunidad na ibinigay sa kanya ng Pangulo na magsilbi sa bayan.

“We thank the President for the opportunity to serve the nation,” sabi ni Ridon sa kalatas na ipinadala sa Malacañang Press Corps.

Ang public record aniya ng PCUP ay patunay na ipinatupad nila nang may integridad ang presidential promise na walang demolisyon kung walang relokasyon.

“We had represented government and given voice to the urban poor in international conferences on public housing, poverty alleviation and climate change, which was unprecedented in any administration. We performed our mandate to the best of our abilities, with integrity and competence, despite the heavy burden of undertaking genuine reform,” aniya.

Giit ni Roque, hindi sinibak si Ridon dahil sa pagiging left-leaning dahil matagal na siyang dumistansiya sa mga progresibong grupo.

(ROSE NOVENARIO)

RIDON UMABUSO
SA PUWESTO
— DUTERTE

KINOMPIRMA  ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na sinibak niya si Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chairman Terry Ridon dahil sa hilig magbiyahe sa ibang bansa imbes kapakanan ng maralitang tagalungsod ang atupagin.

Simula aniya nang italaga niya si Ridon noong Setyembre 2016 ay pito o walong beses nang nagpunta sa ibang bansa ngunit halos dalawang beses pa lang pinulong ang matataas na opisyal ng PCUP.

“It’s a collegial body and I heard they never had any meeting except one or two and si Ridon. Maybe ako naman no personal reasons really to fire him except that he had too much too soon. I appointed September, traveled seven times, to think office is an urban poor agency,” anang Pangulo kahapon.

Hindi maunawaan ng Pangulo ang dahilan nang madalas na pagpunta sa ibang bansa ni Ridon.

“I don’t understand why you have to be there every pow wow in the international scene,” ani Duterte patungkol kay Ridon.

Kailangan na aniyang kumuha ng permiso sa kanyang tanggapan ang lahat ng opisyal ng gobyerno para makalabas ng bansa.

“Hencefort, everybody must get a permit from my office and I’ll see if it’s really worthwhile. To tavel 7 times – 8 times… ayoko na lang too much too soon,” giit niya.

Sa pahayag ni Ridon, sinabi niyang lahat ng biyahe nila aprobado ng travel authorities.

Ani Ridon sa pahayag, “All trips were covered by Travel Authorities issued by the Office of the President and recommended by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary involving international conferences relevant to the urban poor: poverty alleviation, public housing and climate change. Further, these conferences involved a multi-agency delegation, including agencies under the Office of the President like PCUP.”

(ROSE NOVENARIO)