Is Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte tough on corruption? Not for the slew of fired officials that he rehired
Duterte has given new jobs to at least seven officials who left their posts under a cloud, including one linked to the smuggling of US$118 million worth of crystal meth
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has taken great pride in firing nearly two dozen officials in an anti-corruption drive since he came to power two years ago. The catch: about a quarter have already been rehired.
Duterte has fired 21 officials and accepted the resignation of seven, delivering on a promise to dismiss anyone on “just a whiff” of corruption.
“If you go to the national government just to look for an opportunity for money, go look for another job. I will really fire you,” Duterte told employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform on June 20.
I will stop corruption. I have been firing officials left and right every day
On June 14 he told local officials: “I will stop corruption. I have been firing officials left and right every day. Undersecretaries, chiefs of offices, education officials, all of them.”
Corruption remains a significant barrier to trade and investment in the Philippines, the US trade representative said in a report released in April.
Under Duterte, the country ranked 111th of 180 nations in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2017, down from 101st in 2016.
Investors want to see courts and anti-corruption institutions strengthened, said Bob Herrera-Lim, a managing director for Teneo Strategy, a global business advisory firm.