Duterte fires Marina chief

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has fired Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Marcial Quirico Amaro 3rd for frequent unof- 2016 and 2017.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said on Thursday Amaro had traveled abroad seven times in 2016 and 17 times in 2017, or 24 trips in two years, based on records from the Department of Transportation.

“The President has terminated the services of Mr. Amaro of Marina. All but one of the 24 trips are on trips. The rest were paid for by the Philippine government, and he has received honorariums for such,” he told reporters in a news conference.

Roque, echoing the line of Marina employees and clients who had mounted the campaign to get Amaro axed, pointed out that if Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor Chairman James Mark seven trips in one year, “then 24 is certainly excessive by the President’s standards.”

Both Amaro and Ridon have denied that their trips were junkets.

Roque said the President was informed of Amaro’s excessive foreign travels on December 22 through a complaint made by Marina employees.

to stay true to their mandate, lead modest lives and avoid unnecessary foreign trips,” Roque said.

On Wednesday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea warned government employees under the Executive department against exces or otherwise.

Medialdea issued the memorandum “to ensure compliance with the pronouncements of President Duterte against lavish travels of government

Based on Medialdea’s memo, a - cial’s mandate; not incur excessive expenses and should bring substan

Personal trips covered

The memo requires a government official to secure a travel authorization from his or her agency, even for personal trips, and accomplish the necessary forms. Such travel should not memo said.

Medialdea’s memo also covers employees of government-owned and -controlled corporations and

The memo mirrors Executive Order 459 issued by President Gloria Arroyo in 2005, which streamlines the procedure for the disposition of requests of govern - ity to travel abroad.

Roque said that henceforth, “All government employees need to get approval for any foreign travel, be it

“This is the President’s unilateral decision to crack down on foreign travels of on their jobs here in the Philippines… guidelines,” he added.

Transport dep’t respects decision

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Thursday said it respects the decision of President Duterte to terminate Amaro as Marina administrator.

“The DoTr trusts that the President’s decision is just, fair, and unprejudiced as it was based on - vestigation,” it said in a statement.

“The DoTr, under the leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade, looks into the affairs and performances of all its attached agencies, and shall not, in any case, tolerate corruption and excesses in government service. Rest assured that the DoTr and its very discerning and judicious in this matter,” the agency added.

Earlier, the United Filipino Seafarers urged the Senate to conduct a thorough investigation over alleged “jet-setting” and “globe-trotting” of Amaro.