Santiago steps down as DDB chief

After his statement that the mega drug rehabilitation facility in Nueva Ecija is “impractical” and “a mistake,” Dionisio Santiago leaves his post as chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) as supposedly ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea reportedly told the DDB chief to resign on orders of the president.

“I was told to tell you to go,” Santiago quoted Medialdea telling him through a phone call.

Despite Santiago’s claims that the president was misinformed, the former told Medialdea that he respects Duterte’s decision.

Santiago said he has served in the government for 40 years and he did not expect for such a way out.

Meanwhile, in an interview, he said that his interview in ANC where he described the mega drug rehabilitation facility as impractical, a mistake and something that was born out of the president’s excitement was misinterpreted.

“It’s nothing, it wasn’t me who criticized it. Actually, I had it reviewed, I didn’t say it is a mistake. It came from your, your peers… the friends of the media,” Santiago said in Unang Balita.

He added, “I don’t know, maybe the question to me was intentional, are you saying that the President committed a mistake? I said he didn’t go wrong there. Of course, the president does not listen to his adviser, although he has his own mind.”

DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 11/ 08 /17