Marcial “Al” Amaro III. PHOTO from http://www.marina.gov.ph
DAVAO CITY, Philippines —- Another official was booted out from position after allegedly making “excessive” travels abroad.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced here Thursday, the dismissal from government service of Marcial Amaro, administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) after the latter has incurred, not 11, but 24 foreign trips during his stint as Marina chief.
Roque said the Office of the President received a complaint from employees of Marina that Amaro has “11 foreign trips in 2017 alone.”
The Department of Transportation, he said, has furnished President Rodrigo Duterte with the list of Amaro’s travels totaling 18 foreign trips. In 2016 Amaro reportedly made six trips abroad.
“The President has decided, therefore, to terminate his services,” Roque said.
He said only one trip of Amaro was unofficial.
“But the point of the President is we have to be selective in the trips that we will undertake,” he stressed.
He said only three of the official trips were sponsored and the rest were paid for by the government.
President Duterte earlier sacked urban poor commission chief Terry Ridon for seven official foreign trips.
Roque said the dismissal of Amaro is a reminder for government employees “that they should live modest lives.”
Amaro has not yet issued a statement as of press time.(davaotoday.com)
