President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his frustration the proliferating ‘padrino’ system in the Philippine government, specifically in getting contracts for government-funded projects worth millions of public money.
The president mentioned that some are namedropping Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, and Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana to win contracts for government projects .
“Kung ang contract mo ay maganda at kumpleto (If your contract is fine and complete), you don’t have to convince everybody that it is really good,” Duterte said.
The National Bureau of Investigation has been ordered by Duterte to look into the matter and arrest those using officials’ names to win contracts.
Duterte also encouraged those who hold first-grade civil service eligibility to apply to work for the government after he read his weekly list of dismissed and suspended government employees due to graft and corruption cases.
“Maraming Pilipino na bright na walang trabaho. Diyan sa civil service, maraming nakalista diyan na first-grade eligible na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakakita ng trabaho,” Duterte said.
“I suggest kayong mga first grade eligible, wala ng padri-padrino, mag-apply kayo sa civil service.”
