'Sacrificial lamb' Sueno stands by Duterte

MANILA - (UPDATED) Dismissed Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael "Mike" Sueno on Thursday reiterated support for his fellow Mindanaoan, President Rodrigo Duterte, even after the latter dismissed him over allegations of corruption.

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

"Ang passion ko kasi, being a true Mindanaoan, is to have somebody from Mindanao become president of this country... because he will solve the problems of Mindanao. To me, only a Mindanaoan can solve the problems of Mindanao."

A former South Cotabato governor, Sueno had campaigned for Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, during the May 2016 polls.

But 3 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretaries -- who also supported Duterte during the elections -- recently accused Sueno of various abuses, including alleged ties to gambling syndicates and the anomalous purchase of fire trucks.

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

SACRIFICIAL LAMB?

Sueno denied the corruption allegations against him.
He also said he has accepted being a "sacrificial lamb" in Duterte's vow to dismiss officials tainted even with just a "whiff of corruption."

"I am a willing victim. Maski ngayon, alam ko, he wants to have me as an example, parang ako ang sacrificial lamb," he said.

Sueno said Duterte fired him during a Cabinet meeting without listening to his explanation regarding DILG's allegedly anomalous purchase of Rosenbauer firetrucks.

"Masakit na beginning pa lang ng Cabinet meeting namin, sinabi na niya agad na, I was confronted with the issue on Rosenbauer. I tried to answer, hindi naman po pinakinggan. At the end of the Cabinet meeting, noong sinabi niya sa akin na, 'Secreatary Sueno, I am dismissing you now', parang lumiit talaga ako," he shared.

• Duterte recounts how he fired Sueno

The outgoing DILG chief said he has gotten over his initial distress through the support of his family and subordinates.

"I am happy [about] where I am now. I am very thankful to the President for giving me this opportunity, and I'm also thankful na inalis niya ako dahil ngayon, makapahinga na kami ng misis ko," he said.

Sueno added that has forgiven DILG undersecretaries John Castriciones, Jesus Hinlo, and Emily Padilla for their accusations against him.

Some DILG employees meanwhile expressed support for Sueno, saying they do not believe the allegations against him.

DILG employees show signs of support to former Sec. Sueno, believing he is innocent of corruption charges | via @rongagalac pic.twitter.com/fuf1tQ9OQn

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 6, 2017

Sueno's replacement, Undersecretary Catalino Cuy, presented him with send-off gifts of an Ivatan raincoat and a woven basket.

-- With reports from Zhander Cayabyab, DZMM; Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News