MANILA: President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte on Thursday ordered the dismissal of another top government official for making a total of 24 foreign “junkets” which he described as “excessive.”

This was disclosed by Harry Roque, the presidential spokesman, who identified the official as Marcial Amaro, the head of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) who was the subject of a letter-complaint from the agency’s employees.

Roque said the Marina employees sought the dismissal of Amaro for his frequent foreign travels which totalled 11 in 2017, which gave him practically no time to attend to the agency’s mandate However, Roque said the Presidential Management Staff confirmed that Amaro’s travel was more than 11 - 18 in 2017 and another six in 2016 for a total of 24.

“The point of the president is we have to be selective in the (foreign) trips we have to undertake, definitely, 24 trips are excessive (as described by Duterte),” Roque told a media briefing in the president’s hometown of Davao City in Mindanao.

Most of Amaro’s foreign junkets, Roque said, were financed by the government which also shouldered his per diems and other allowances plus plane fares.

Earlier, Duterte signed an executive order issuing guidelines for government officials wishing to travel abroad, one of which is that the purpose is strictly within the mandate of the requesting official, according to Roque.

He said the two other guidelines are that the projected expenses for such trip are not excessive and that the trip is expected to bring substantial benefits to the country.

“They should live a modest life, that they be true to their calling and that they should avoid unnecessary trips,” Roque emphasised.

Amaro became the third top government official to be dismissed by Duterte within just one month for their fondness for foreign travel.

Last December, Duterte fired Elba Cruz, the head of the state-run Development Academy of the Philippines and before that, former congressman Terry Ridon, the chief of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.

In the same media briefing, Roque said he was also waiting for Duterte’s order identifying several senior officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), holding the rank of senior superintendent equivalent to a colonel in the military for their alleged involvement in corruption, illegal drugs and other high profile crimes.