Dureza leaves his post; 2 executives of the OPPAP licensed

President Duterte accepted the resignation of Jesus G. Dureza as presidential adviser for the peace process, the latter having fully assumed responsibility for the alleged corruption in his former agency.

Dureza's resignation comes after the President sacked two officials from the office of the presidential aide in charge of the peace process because of allegations of corruption. Mr. Duterte has not provided more details.

"We congratulate the former presidential adviser for the peace process on assuming all his responsibilities and apologizing under the principle of command responsibility for the transgressions committed by his two subordinates. His resignation gave a concrete example and gave real meaning to the value of delicadeza and morality in governance. This is an example of leadership, "said Salvador S. Panelo, spokesperson and chairman of the Presidential Legal Council, in a press release issued on Wednesday.

In a previous interview, Mr. Duterte said that Dureza had resigned, citing command responsibility.

"Well, Secretary Dureza … treated it as a matter of hierarchical accountability. He therefore thought that it was normal that, with the involvement of his two subordinates, he offered to resign and I accepted his resignation, "he said.

In a letter to the president, Dureza announced that he was resigning "to pave the way for the necessary reorganization" that the president might wish to undertake at OPAPP.

"I am sad because despite my efforts to comply with your strong advocacy against corruption, I have failed," he said. "Nevertheless, I take full responsibility and excuse myself for all this."

President Duterte dismissed Ronald Flores and Atty. Yeshter Donn Baccay, who has been Under-Secretary of Support Services and Pamana's National Program Management Office and Assistant Secretary of Support Services and Pamana Concerns, respectively.

Malacañang said on Wednesday that the "immediate dismissal" of the two officials by the president is another warning to all government officials, stating that no one is immune to the high and demanding standards of business. honesty of the administration in the public service.

"Their dismissal also underlines that the president remains committed to eliminating corruption in the bureaucracy, which includes offices specializing in particular areas of governance. Like the fight against drugs, the fight against corruption must be carried out relentlessly, "said Panelo.

Development is also occurring in the midst of the aftermath of peace talks between the government and communist rebels.

Earlier, the president had asked Dureza and Panelo to meet the head of the National Democratic Front, Luis Jalandoni, and his colleague, Fidel Agcaoili, for an "informal discussion" and explore the possibility of resuming peace talks.

According to reports, Mr. Jalandoni has canceled his return trip to the country, threatened with arrest by government authorities.

Regarding Agcaoili, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Jose Maria Sison, said that Agcaoili could also cancel his planned return to the country because he also wants to be assured that he will not be threatened.

But last week, the president assured that there would be no arrest for communist leaders once they returned to the Philippines.