Hindi dapat mabahiran ng kurapsiyon ang mga public servant, sinabi ng Malacañang nitong Huwebes matapos magdesisyon si Pangulong Duterte na tuluyang pakawalan ang irrigation chief ng bansa na nagbitiw sa mga akusasyon sa pangingikil.
Inamin ni Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella na ikinalulungkot ng Palasyo ang pagbibitiw ni National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Peter Laviña ngunit pinaalalahanan niya ito na kinukunsinte ng administrasyon maging ang “intimation” ng corruption.
“That his departure from the NIA is tainted with allegations of wrongdoing, therefore, runs against the very core of this Administration's values,” pahayag ni Abella.
“Mr. Laviña may have his own take on this matter, as he is entitled to his opinion, but at the end of the day, public service must brook no hint of corruption, any intimation of which must be faced squarely and without favor,” pagpapatuloy ni Abella.
“Only then can we move forward, towards a well functioning government; towards a nation worthy of our people. And a people worthy of the nation,” dagdag pa ni Abella.
Kamakailan lamang ay nagbitiw si Laviña sa kanyang tungkulin ngunit mariin niyang pinabulaanan ang alegasyon na humingi siya ng pera mula sa NIA contractors. Naiulat na humingi siya ng tawad sa Pangulo dahil sa mga intriga na nakaapekto sa anti-corruption effort ng pamahalaan.
Samantala, nakatakdang imbestigahan ng pamahalaan ang pagkakadawit sa ilang NIA officials sa kurapsiyon at maghain ng kaukulang kaso.
Sinabi ni Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. na isusulong niya ang preventive suspension at reshuffle sa mga tauhan ng NIA, at kung kinakailangan, magsasagawa ng masusing imbestigasyon.
“To date, we have not received any formal complaint against Administrator Laviña and other involved NIA officials.
Rest assured that the Office of the Cabinet Secretary will still look into these allegations against NIA officials,” pahayag ng Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
“Cases will be filed if these allegations were proven to be true. Officials will be preventively suspended, if warranted. Personnel will be reshuffled, if needed,” dagdag nito. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)