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)