INTERIOR Secretary Ismael Sueno said Monday someone wanted him out of his department as he denied the allegations of corruption and abuse of power in a confidential letter to President Rodrigo Duterte that was reportedly drafted and sent by three of his undersecretaries.
Sueno said he believed the attacks were initiated by John Castriciones, Jesus V. Hinlo and Emily Padilla.
He claimed that they made the move after he clipped their powers at the Interior Department following a redelegation of authority that he issued last week.
“It appears that from the very start, they want[ed] my head and [were] out to discredit me because they want[ed] somebody else to head the Department,” Sueno said in a statement.
He insists he is not clinging to his position and, just like any other Cabinet official, he serves at the pleasure of the President.
He said the three were resentful because he had to reassign some of the workload and projects to the other undersecretaries since nothing happened to the programs given to them and nothing much was moving in terms of accomplishments.
Reports of Sueno’s alleged corruption activities were made public Monday after a confidential letter was given by the group to President Duterte, including an alleged brand-new hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato; constructions in his South Cotabato farm; payment of firetrucks; authorizing a mayor to join the Washington trip regarding illegal drugs; and an alleged all-expense trip by the Secretary and members of his family to Austria and other European countries.
Sueno vehemently denied that he was abusing his power and position, adding that he had never used his position to enrich himself or pursue his personal interests.
He said the hotel in South Cotabato mentioned in the letter belonged to his younger brother who was a long-time businessman, and the trucks were owned by his daughter who was engaged in a trucking and rice business.
He admitted that the farm reported in the confidential letter belonged to him and that because of his flourishing duck business, he was now able to improve the property.
He also said the reports accusing him of collecting grease money from illegal gambling rings through a certain Senior Supt. Sintin were preposterous because he had always said no to illegal gambling.
He also said that Undersecretary Panadero, Assistant Secretary Ester Aldana, and Head Executive Assistant Josephine Leysa, who were mentioned in the letter, were all career officials and had been faithfully serving the Department for several years.
He claimed that the appointment of the three undersecretaries in the DILG were not initially welcomed by the DILG organic personnel because they were “bullying and pushing people around.”
