Resigned Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Eliseo Rio could reach President Rodrigo Duterte to air his concerns regarding the agency, a Palace official said Wednesday.
Rio, who stepped down from his post because he felt he was “no longer needed” in the agency, could seek an audience with the President to discuss the reason why he resigned, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles told reporters.
“He can go to the President. It's really up to him. What I'm saying is, the President has always said that Malacañang is always open and he is open to receiving any complaint, Nograles said.
“If he needs to see the President, I'm sure he knows what to do.”
In his previous interviews, Rio had said he wanted to relay his concerns personally and privately to the President, adding he could not work with his colleagues who kept him out of the loop in intelligence-related decisions that were supposed to be within his scope.
He also cited irregularities in the disbursement of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds, hinting that those were being used for surveillance.
Rio also said DICT, led by former Senator Gringo Honasan, did not need confidential funds because it was not the agency’s mandate to conduct surveillance and intelligence activities.
The Commission on Audit had flagged down the agency’s cash advance, which was released in tranches of P100 million on Nov. 8, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17 last year.
Nograles said the issues hounding the DICT were not discussed during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night. He said Honasan could hold a dialogue with the President if needed.
Malacañang and Congress could also look into the alleged anomalies involving the DICT, Nograles said.
Honasan may face a Senate investigation on the alleged anomaly in the DICT, said Senator Panfilo Lacson. Lacson and Honasan are classmates at the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971.
Honasan “deserves the opportunity to give his side” on the statements made by Rio, Lacson said.
Rio was the DICT’s acting secretary until Honasan assumed the post last July.
During his stint in DICT, Rio led the country’s search for a third telecommunications player.
