- DILG’s Abalos rejects Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s suspension order
During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Tagum City on Friday to distribute financial aid to El Niño-affected farmers and fishermen, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. denied rumors of Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s suspension.
“As far as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is concerned, at this point, that is not true. It is a rumor,” Abalos said.
Abalos also expressed confusion as to where former presidential spokesman Harry Roque got his information.
He clarified that the DILG’s mandate is to enforce the suspension of local officials based on orders from the Office of the Ombudsman or the provincial board, therefore, the DILG cannot act independently based on whim or grudge.
Baste Address Rumors of the outage
Meanwhile, the Davao City chief executive downplayed rumors of his removal during a Barangay Serbisyo Publico event held at the Capitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School on Saturday, June 8.
“The reason I’m here right now is because I don’t know, but there are rumors that I’m going to be fired, that I’m going to be suspended. As for me, I’m just going to carry on. Whatever happens, the city is peaceful for now, even if I’m gone. But it’s just a rumor, if you wait, it will come, and I’ll just carry on,” Duterte said.
“The point is, we are government officials. Politics is chaotic, others fight, at the end of the day it’s up to them how they do things. I have my own way of doing things,” he added.
“To Plantilla [employees]”Please take care of yourself, do your job and continue to serve the people because that is our duty and we are paid by the people through their taxes and that is how we earn our living,” he further said.
This was the mayor’s first public appearance since Roque first floated the idea of his suspension, an idea that quickly went viral on social media.
Also present at the Serbisyo Caravan were Rep. Tec Ocampo and officials from Barangays 34-D, 35-D and 38-D.
City Information Director Harvey Lantisse said he knew nothing about the suspension orders against President Duterte and Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. beyond what everyone has already heard.
“as far as i know, Woodlouse “Any information, communication or document relating to the suspension of local government officials, as discussed on social media, is prohibited,” Lantisse said.
last Friday, Times When contacted, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bureau XI chief Abdullah Mataram declined to comment further as he is not familiar with the matter.
