By Argyll Geducos

President Duterte said that he asked Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) president and CEO Pedro Aquino Jr. to resign because the latter tried to strike a deal with Russians without the approval of the board of trustees.

Duterte made the statement days after it was confirmed that Duterte also asked Aquino to step down as a member of the Board of the PNOC-EC and to submit his resignation before the Office of the President for loss of confidence.

In a speech at the Manila Hotel, Duterte said he asked Aquino to resign because he wanted the board of trustees to ratify the contract he drafted for a deal with Rosneft Oil Co., the leader in the Russian oil sector.

“Here is a guy who prepared a contract with the Russians and the Russians thought that it, it’s all there is to it. Ay ang gusto niya nga—wala naman pala siyang [approval] (But he didn’t get an approval). He wanted now the Board of Trustees to ratify what he prepared,” he narrated.

“Sabi ko, ‘Adre, abogado ka. Ano yung kalokohan mo na baliktad (You’re a lawyer. What is this backwards process that you’re insisting)? . . . you have been given the power to draft, to prepare, whatnot. And then after that, have it approved by the Board of Directors?'” he added.

“Ayan yung contract (The contract is there) and you want the Board of Directors to ratify your idiotic contract… Maraming ganoon. Hindi mo lang malaman (That happens a lot of times you just don’t know it). The ways of corruption” he continued.

In an interview in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte only found out about the deal when Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin made a courtesy call to the President during his state visit to Moscow, Russia.

Earlier, Panelo said Duterte’s decision to ask Aquino to resign was part of the President’s crusade against corruption in government.

“The President’s order is still in line, and pursuant to his anti-corruption campaign in the government, and underscores once again that there are no sacred cows under this Administration,” he said.

“We reiterate the directive of the President to all officials and employees of the government to undertake actions which are only pursuant to what the law provides in the performance of their official functions and desist from committing any act that are — or may appear to be — irregular, illegal or dishonest,” he added.

During his visit to Moscow, Russia early October, President Duterte invited Rosneft Oil Co. to invest in the Philippines and assured its CEO Igor Sechin that their investments will be safe in the country because corruption is not tolerated in his government.

“The President invited Rosneft, the leader in the Russian oil sector, to invest in the Philippines, particularly with regard to oil and gas development, and assured its officials that their investments are safe in the Philippines and that he would not tolerate corruption in the bureaucracy,” Panelo earlier said.

“We wish to add that the Chief Executive underscored that any agreement that will be executed or performed for such purpose shall undergo the proper domestic processes and comply with applicable laws and pertinent rules and regulations so as not to leave any room for corruption or irregularity,” he added.

Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta said that Russia was interested in exploring the West Philippine Sea for energy cooperation within Philippine laws. However, he said Russia had no intention to meddle in the Philippines’ sea dispute with China.