MANILA: President Rodrigo Rody” Duterte announced he signed an order limiting “foreign junkets” for officials under the executive department as part of his campaign to rid the bureaucracy of corruption.

In particular, Duterte warned that henceforth officials under his direct order and supervision, who have been found to have made a total of 12 foreign travels in a year “have to go.”

“it is part of the campaign against corruption not only done with malice but those who just want to use the money of government for nothing,” Duterte said in a speech while attending the 60th birthday celebration of his close ally House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in Mindanao on Friday night.

“They go out for every convocation, convention, powwow, seminar,” Duterte emphasised, “just for the fun of going out. And those who have travelled more than 12 (in a year) have to go.”

Malacananng Palace explained that the Duterte executive order does not cover officials connected with the two other co-equal branches of government – Congress and the judiciary.

Under the executive order, concerned government agencies like the Department of Interior and Local Government are required to submit a regular report to Malacanang on the number of officials allowed to travel abroad.

Such reports also cover  officials invited to go abroad “for free” but for what purpose, the order said.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum providing three guidelines before officials under Malacanang Palace would be allowed to travel abroad.

The guidelines included that such trip is “within the mandate” of the official involved, that the travel expenses are “not expensive” and that it would “bring substantial benefit to the government.”

The latest Duterte executive  order, meanwhile, came on the heels of a Malacanang Palace  announcement dismissing at least four ranking officials for their “excessive” foreign junkets.