MANILA – (UPDATE) Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, who led the selection for the Philippines' third telco, said Monday he resigned from his post.
Asked if complications in the agency also led to his decision, the 75-year-old retired Army general said: "That is the main reason." He also cited old age.
"Sec. Honasan also knows that there are some few people that could not work together with so I said I might as well give him the chance, give Sec. Honasan free hand without any interfering from my part," he said.
Rio was referring to DICT Sec. Gregorio Honasan. Rio was officer in charge of the DICT until Honasan, a former rebel Army colonel turned senator, was named secretary.
Rio released a copy of his resignation letter dated Jan. 30. The communications official told President Rodrigo Duterte in the letter that it was an honor leading the third telco selection.
A consortium between businessman Dennis Uy's Udenna Corp and China Telecom, DITO Telecommunity, was named the third telco to challenge the dominance of PLDT INc and Globe Telecom.
Rio denied having first-hand knowledge of an alleged anomaly involving confidential funds at the DICT based on a Commission on Audit report.
He is a licensed Electronics and Communications Engineer who finished 4th in the ECE Board Exams in 1971. After retiring from the Philippine Army with the rank of brigadier general, he was appointed to the National Telecommunications Commission in 2001.
-- with a report from Warren De Guzman, ABS-CBN News