DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte gave bonuses to the city’s barangay officials during a gathering at the Davao City Recreational Gym on Tuesday, saying the funds came from a politician who donated to his presidential election campaign that went unused.
Duterte gave P10,000 to each of Davao’s 183 barangay chieftains and P3,000 each to barangay councilors, apart from grocery packs for all of them.
Duterte said he also used some of the money to donate to hospitals and buy medicine for the poor of Davao.
“I returned it to him since I have no intention of using it, however, he did not accept it, that is why [the funds are] still with me,” the President said. “I did not declare it in my campaign expenditures since I did not use it. I told myself that I will just use it in cases like this.”
He said he felt the need to give bonuses to the barangay officials since he would not be the mayor of Davao for over 23 years if not for their support.
The barangay officials played a big role during his campaign as Davao’s chief executive, since they all supported him even from the start of his political career, Duterte added.
He reminded the barangay officials to continue their sworn duty “and to never commit corruption since [he] will never tolerate it.”
Duterte said he even dismissed 92 of his fraternity brothers who were holding government posts because of alleged corruption in their ranks.
“Let us make our promise come true. In my government, do not ever attempt to commit corruption, I will never tolerate you,” he said, assuring them the money he doled out did not come from graft.
