President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he will remove more government officials linked to corruption from their posts before December this year, making special mention of the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and the Department of Public Works and Highways as the most corrupt government agencies.
Duterte made the statement during a televised Cabinet meeting in Malacañang, as he also named the more than 40 Immigration employees who were tagged in the controversial airport bribery scheme.
He vowed to go after customs officials involved in illegal activities and instructed Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to cleanse his turf from alleged graft and corruption.
The President has pledged to bring down the ax on high-ranking officials and heads of offices accused of corruption and abuse of power before his term ends in 2022.
Duterte noted the immigration "pastillas" scheme, first brought to light in February, that allegedly allowed Chinese nationals to enter the country without background checks in exchange for grease money.
The operation was dubbed “pastillas" because money would be hidden in rolled paper sheets like the wrapping for the local milk candy.
The President again attacked an unnamed former Customs official, whom he described as corrupt and "has long been using his ties so he will be absolved of his crimes."
He added the official held two government posts at the same time: at Customs and a member of the Board of Directors at the Development Bank of the Philippines.
