Trade chief assures Russian businessmen of graft-free deals

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MOSCOW — President Duterte might not have been able to face Russian businessmen in Moscow, but Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez assured potential investors there would be no corruption in their dealings with the Duterte administration.

“I would just repeat what he’d normally say if he were here … He would assure all investors … he will assure you there will be no corruption in his administration,” Lopez told Russian businessmen.

Lopez made the assurance at a business forum in Moscow that Mr. Duterte was supposed to attend on Thursday.

Trip shortened

Mr. Duterte, however, had to cut short his trip because of the terror attacks in Marawi, but several Cabinet officials stayed behind to finish scheduled activities.

Lopez also told the businessmen that Mr. Duterte was so intent on the matter of Russian investments in the Philippines that he had pledged to take care of corruption complaints personally.

“He will assure you, if you will encounter corruption in the Philippines … he will be the one to go to that person giving you a problem. So he will either kick him out of the door or fire him,” he said.

Mr. Duterte wants to make life easy for investors and businessmen, he stressed.

“He will also encourage you to ride on the growth momentum this country, this administration, is having at the moment. So come on and ride the growth story of the Philippines,” he added.