Ni GENALYN D. KABILING

Pinagbibitiw na lang ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa puwesto ang dalawang assistant secretary kung ayaw ng mga itong masibak dahil sa alegasyon ng kurapsiyon.

Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque na hiniling ng Pangulo ang pagbibitiw sa tungkulin nina Department of Justice (DoJ) Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon, Sr. at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Secretary Tingagun Umpa, kasunod ng imbestigasyong isinagawa ng Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

“The President has advised two Assistant Secretaries to tender their resignation or face termination for corruption,” sinabi ni Roque kahapon sa press briefing sa Malacañang.

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Batay sa pagsisiyasat ng PACC, si Macarambon ay regular umanong “intervening on behalf of suspected smugglers of gold and other precious jewelry at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport”, ayon kay Roque.

Inakusahan naman si Umpa ng paghingi umano ng mga kickback mula sa mga contractor ng mga proyektong pagawain sa Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“Investigation conducted by the DPWH indicates that Asec Umpa committed grave abuse of power and may have committed also acts of corruption, among others. DPWH has sworn statements where Asec Umpa allegedly asked from contractors in the ARMM area for certain percentages from projects awarded to these contractors,” sabi ni Roque.

Kapwa appointees ng Pangulo sina Macarambon at Umpa.

Nang tanungin kung sasampahan ba ng kaso ang dalawang opisyal, sinabi ni Roque na ipinauubaya na ito ng Malacañang sa Office of the Ombudsman.

Kung mayroong iba pang masisibak sa tungkulin, sagot ni Roque: “Maraming complaints ang iniimbestigahan ngayon ng PACC.”