Marina Chief Sacked

Manila, Philippines - Maritime Industry Authority Chief Marcial Amaro has been fired by President Rodrigo Duterte for his supposed excessive travels in his 13-month stint as the agency’s head. Amaro supposedly traveled abroad 24 times since he was appointed as Marina Administrator.

Amaro was appointed to Marina on July 2016, succeeding Dr. Maximo Mejia, Jr.,. Under Amaro, the Marina opened its new Central Office Building at the Parkview Plaza Building along Taft Avenue in Manila on July 31, 2017.

In a TV interview, Amaro explained his trips as ‘essential’ and part of his job.

‘Marina is an international organization. We are a specialized organization of the government that deals with international organizations,’ he said.

He also added that all his trips were approved by the Department of Transportation.

"All the policies and programs emanate from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and we need to discuss it quite toughly with them otherwise it’s going to affect our domestic trade.”

Amaro also explained that he had to attend all these official functions abroad himself since he was not appointed any deputy administrator.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque meanwhile defended the President’s decision saying, "The point of the President is we have to be selective in the trips we have to undertake. Definitely, 24 trips is excessive."