CLARK FREEPORT — Clark Development Corporation president and CEO Noel Manankil said he has filed a leave of absence and is submitting to any investigation after President Rodrigo Duterte hinted he might fire an official of the government firm over corruption at the Freeport.
In remarks he made Wednesday after accepting military assistance from China at Clark, Duterte said: “I am about to fire somebody from here. If it is proven that humingi siya ng pera, may opisyal dito na tatanggalin ko. In a few days I’ll fire him.”
“Nandito siya,” Duterte said.
Although Duterte has yet to officially identify the supposedly corrupt official, Manankil released a statement to media Thursday saying “…I fully submit to an impartial investigation on the allegation.”
“In the meantime, I am voluntarily taking a leave of absence effective today to allow the investigations to proceed unimpeded. I leave my fate to God, ever confident that truth and justice will prevail,” he added.
At the same time, he stressed, “I would like to categorically and very strong deny any involvement in the alleged irregularities.”
“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,” Manankil said.