On 29th of June 2017 Noel F. Manankil, head of an economy zone in Pampanga, a Filipino province, denied corruption allegations following the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte threat to fire Manankil articulated the day before.
Noel Manankil, the president and CEO of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), strongly denies any illegal conspiracy with the employees of companies managed by CDC:
“I have served in low-key positions at the CDC for 21 years, the latest as vice president for administration and finance. During those two decades of service, I have never been involved in anything illegal in Clark,” – he said in an official statement.
Despite this he took a leave of absence effective Thursday to allow an impartial investigation.
During his speech on Wednesday 28th of June 2017 Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte stated that he will soon fire an official if corruption allegations were proven:
“I’m about to fire somebody from here. Kung totoo na humingi siya ng pera (If it is true he asked for money), in a few days, I’ll fire him,” Duterte said.
In another speech which took place in Manila Hotel Duterte confirmed that he was talking about a certain CDC employee in Pampanga. He also said that this official allegedly solicited at least 2 mln. philippine pesos (approximately$39 600) from each deal struck with employees working for the two companies managed by CDC in the free port zone.
CDC is a state company that oversees another two governmental corporations: Clark Freeport and Clark Special Economic Zone.
Source: ABS CBN News.
