Duterte: The country will not prosper if there is corruption

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

During the recent PDP-Laban rally in Bacolod City, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed more firings over corruption allegations. Most recently, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan was sacked; however, Malacañan Palace later revised the issue and claimed he resigned.

In an attempt to tamp down on corruption, the president earlier created the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

“Until today, so many billions are lost everyday because of corruption,” he said during last year’s anniversary observance of the commission. “The way the bureaucracy is set up, it is really conducive for corruption to thrive.”

In his most recent statement, he called on the public to reject corruption, saying, if it does not end, “The country will not prosper.”

Duterte said the next round of firings will take place before he leaves for Beijing, where he will attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

The “Belt and Road Initiative” seeks to resurrect ancient trade routes that connected China with regions of Africa and Europe, along with other parts of Asia.

According to the vision and action plan put out by the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce: “In the 21st century, a new era marked by the theme of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, it is all the more important for us to carry on the ‘Silk Road Spirit’ in face of the weak recovery of the global economy, and complex international and regional situations.”/DGB, WDJ