Philippine groups demand Duterte allies comply with 'plundemic' probePhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to the media after Philippine Senator Christopher "Bong" Go filed his certificate of candidacy to join the vice presidential race in Pasay City, metro Manila on Saturday. The probe follows the state auditor's flagging of "deficiencies" in how supply contracts were handled, alleging corruption from overpriced deals, among other irregularities. Duterte last month ordered cabinet members to seek his consent before appearing in Senate hearings. Duterte, 76, who was elected on promises to eliminate graft completely, cannot seek a second term and had been expected to run for vice president next year. But at the weekend he declared he would retire from politics, days after an opinion poll on preferred vice president candidates showed him slipping into second place.

Source: Bangkok Post October 04, 2021 12:56 UTC