Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Source: AFP/Getty Images) Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has fired 20 officials, including several colonels and a general, over accusations of fraud and corruption in purchases of military medical supplies.
Among those dismissed of their positions were Brig. Gen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service Command (AFPHSC),; Col. Antonio Punzalan from the Logistics Office of the AFPHSC; and several employees of the AFP Medical Center, the President’s spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.
Those sacked were accused of involvement in 17 cases of fake purchases of supplies, drugs, and equipment at inflated prices.
One such ‘ghost delivery’ alone amounted to 1.49 million PHP (roughly 28,000 USD), he said.
Aside from losing their jobs, the top military officials will also undergo court martial proceedings.
The names of the other officials involved will be publicised in the upcoming days, according to Roque.
In his campaign against corruption, Duterte has sacked dozens of officials, including many of his own appointees. –VNA
VNA
