President Rodrigo R. Duterte regretted on Thursday that it will take longer for the Philippines to reach the economic progress of the neighboring countries as a result of the enormous corruption within the government.
"If we can not stop transplantation and corruption and can not maintain law and order in this country, the Philippines should never reach the level of economic progress that Malaysia and Indonesia are enjoying at the present level," Duterte said in his speech during the celebration of the 49th Charter Day at Mandaue City, Cebu.
"It would take us about 10 years or 15 years to catch up, maybe more than." Yan ang problema sa Pilipino (That's the problem with Filippino's) But do not try to crucify the country I do not like it, "he added.
Duterte made this remark after criticizing dismissed officials of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) and high-ranking officials and employees of the armed forces of the Philippines (AFP-HSC), who had been taken over by the government and controlled (supposedly alleged corruption.
On 7 August, the president fired the whole board of NPF for leasing its property for a $ 1.5 billion casino resort in Parañaque City, despite its moratorium on casinos.
Duterte was not only opposed to building new casinos, he also believed that the contract was flawed.
"You give a franchise for 75 years, you have to be crazy," Duterte said.
"I was so pissed that I tried to solve the anomaly of Nayong Pilipino, and here's a report that afternoon," he added.
A week later, Duterte fired at least 20 senior officials and employees of the AFP-HSC for alleged corruption in the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City regarding the abnormal purchase of equipment and fraudulent transactions, such as ghost purchases, splitting of contracts to circumvent mandatory bidding processes and invent fictitious suppliers.
Duterte found it difficult to understand how military officials would be brutal enough to be involved in corrupt practices.
"I can not understand how an army officer would have the guts to order drugs that are not delivered but paid for," Duterte said.
The President has repeatedly said that he will not think twice about the firing of government officials, including his friends, who are involved in even a "hint of corruption." (PNA
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