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By Bernadette D. Nicolas, December 12 2018; Business Mirror

https://businessmirror.com.ph/duterte-sets-aside-career-service-eligibility-for-palace-appointees/

Image Credit to GMA Network

President Duterte on Tuesday said that career executive service eligibility is not a primordial consideration among current and prospective government appointees under his administration, saying he is inclined to give more weight on individual honesty and competence.

“…You are competent and you are honest, period…[I don’t give much weight on eligibility]…if you want to work during my term. [If] you are competent and you are honest, period. There will be no eligibility [requirement],” he said in mix of Tagalog and English in a speech at the initial awarding of 500 housing units at the Scout Ranger Ville in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Duterte also reiterated his frustration in combating corruption in the government.

“But the problem is [that] along the way, there is corruption in the government down to the local level. So if we will not be able to end this, people will only get so much,” he said.

Duterte has also repeatedly said in his speeches that it only takes “a whiff of corruption” for him to fire officials, but the President has also been criticized for reappointing sacked government officials.  He also has the penchant of appointing retired military officials in government posts, saying that these officials follow his orders diligently.