President Rodrigo Duterte slammed a high-ranking government official for traveling exorbitantly and spending government funds on first-class perks.
“May isang opisyal tayo dito sa gobyerno, na tiningnan namin ‘yung travel—hindi sa departamento, not the Executive department—na kung magsakay ng eroplano, mag-abroad, first-class. Tapos ang mga hotel niya, ‘yung mga suite. May isang Presidential suite pa ang kinuha. T*** i**…,” [There is a government official we’re looking at their travel [expenses]—not from a department, not from the Executive department—when they ride an airplane, go abroad, it’s first class. Even their hotels, it’s on a suite—a presidential suite. Son of a bitch.] the President said before members of the Philippine Air Force dragon boat team at Malacañang Tuesday.
The President, however, did not name the official he was referring to.
Three officials who were not from the Executive Department are currently facing impeachment raps—Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista.
Of the three, Bautista and Sereno were accused of failure to declare billions in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
The President reminded government officials not to get involved in lavish spending.
“Kaya dito, maski dito, simple lang ang ating ano ha? Hindi masyado sumptuous ang… Walang lechon-lechon dito. Walang steak-steak. Kasi sabi ko, “Hindi pera natin eh, pera ng tao ‘yan.”
(That’s why I try to be simple. No sumptuous…no lechon, no steaks. Because this is not our money, it’s the people’s money).
