MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed two commissioners at the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), whose top officials were sacked in December due to excessive travels.

Duterte appointed on January 16 Randy Halasan and Norman Brillantes Baloro, replacing Manuel Serra Jr. and Joan Lagunda, respectively.

The President last month fired PCUP chair Terry Ridon and commissioners Lagunda, Serra, Melissa Aradanas and Noe Indonto for supposedly going on junkets.

• 'Nothing personal': Duterte says he fired Ridon over travels
• PCUP chief Ridon insists on integrity after getting fired

He has since fired a number of officials, including Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III, over the same issue.

• Fired Marina head defends foreign trips

Earlier this month, Malacañang issued a memorandum restricting travel among officials of the executive department, allowing only those that would bring “substantial benefit to the country.”

• Palace issues memo on foreign travels for officials in executive branch