PRESIDENT Duterte fired Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Nela Charade G. Puno for alleged corruption, but gave no details of what her supposed misdeed was.
Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo made the announcement on Thursday afternoon.
“Please be advised that, upon instructions of the President, your appointment as director general of the Food and Drugs Authority, Department of Health, is hereby terminated, effective immediately. This is in line with the President’s continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption, and to ensure that public officials and employees conduct themselves in a manner worthy of public trust,” Panelo said, reading the May 15 letter for Puno signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
“To assure uninterrupted delivery of public service, you are hereby directed to immediately turn over all official documents, papers and properties in your possession to the Office of the Undersecretary for Health, Regulation, Department of Health,” Panelo added.
Panelo did not elaborate on the corruption allegations against Puno.
The announcement comes less than a month after President Duterte said he will leave “letters of dismissal” for corrupt officials before his trip to China.
Panelo, however, did not confirm if this development was related to the President’s earlier pronouncement.
In October last year, Puno’s convoy was ambushed on the way to Daet, Camarines Norte.
Puno managed to survive, but three policemen in her security were killed while three other officers were injured. Authorities said communist rebels staged the ambush, and were apparently targeting the policemen, not Puno.