Duterte talked about firing Sueno 2 weeks ago- Sotto

MANILA- Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte had mentioned his plan to fire Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael "Mike" Sueno about two weeks ago.

At a media forum, Sotto said he heard Duterte mention such intent during their trip to Myanmar and Thailand last month. Sotto was part of the delegation who joined the President's visit to the two countries.

"I overheard it from the President during our foreign trip," Sotto told reporters.

He believes Duterte validated information on Sueno's alleged corrupt activities before deciding to sack the official, as the President was already thinking about it two weeks ago.

"The bottomline here is that he (Sueno) lost trust in his employees," Sotto said.

Duterte booted Sueno from his Cabinet due to "loss of trust and confidence," Malacañang confirmed Tuesday.

Sueno on Thursday said he was not angry with the Presdient despite his dismissal.

"Hindi ako galit. Maraming nagalit sa akin dahil hindi ako nagalit kay Presidente," Sueno said at a Mass during his last day in office.

The former South Cotabato governor added that he thinks the President may have been "misinformed" on corruption allegations against him.

Duterte however stood firm on his decision to sack Sueno and told reporters in Palawan earlier that he could never be misinformed.
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“I could never be misinformed...When I make a move, when I fire you, diyan mismo alam ko ang ginagawa ko,” Duterte said.

--with a report from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News