Duterte said he had not made any new appointment to the Peza.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he had not made any new appointment to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) and in search of an honest man.
In a speech in Pampanga province, President Duterte shared his reason why until now he had not made any new appointed at Peza.
“In the Peza, the reason there’s nobody there, I haven’t appointed anyone. Up to now, I’m looking for the proverbial honest man,” Duterte said.
The Philippine President said that it is difficult to find an honest man. He added that he feels like he was the person carrying a lamp in daylight, searching for this honest man.
“I haven’t found anybody. Maybe he’s here in Pampanga.”
In his speech, President Duterte referred to two of his fraternity brothers in the Bureau of Immigration that he fired after they were tagged in a multimillion-peso bribe scandal involving a Chinese casino operator.
The President’s spokesperson Ernesto Abella later clarified in a text message that the President was referring to the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza).
“Ceza, according to the President, has unremitted earnings amounting to P300 billion annually; it is currently headed by Jose Mari Ponce. a holdover from past administrations, who was appointed in 2004,” Abella said in a text message.
The Philippine President Rodrigo said that he will grant his promise of a clean government, and said he regularly warned his Cabinet members to steer clear of corruption.
“I will assure you there will be no corruption. Your money would go to you. Every Cabinet meeting, I issue a warning,” he said.
Up to now, President Rodrigo Duterte had not made any new appointment and was in search of an honest man to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).