Duterte accepts DICT Usec Rio Jr.'s resignation

President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr., over three months after he initially offered to quit.

Rio submitted his resignation in January, citing his exclusion from discussions regarding the DICT's use of confidential and intelligence funds.

The DICT had PHP400 million in confidential funds in 2019 and PHP800 million in 2020.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced the acceptance and thanked Rio for his service.

Malacañang previously stated that President Duterte would allow the Senate to investigate the controversial confidential funds appropriated to the DICT before ordering a possible presidential probe.