MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Nela Charade Puno due to alleged corruption, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Thursday.

In a letter addressed to Puno dated May 15, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the decision was in line with Duterte's anti-corruption drive.

"This is in line with the President's continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption, and to ensure that public officials and employees conduct themselves in a manner worthy of public trust," he said.

READ: President Duterte terminates the appointment of Food and Drug Administration Director-General Nela Charade Puno | via @pia_gutierrez pic.twitter.com/h9iLgIeFhJ

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Duterte earlier said he would fire more government officials due to corruption.

In October last year, Puno's convoy was ambushed on the way to Daet, Camarines Norte. She was not hurt in the incident, but 3 police officers in her security detail were killed while 3 others were injured.

Puno is a licensed pharmacist who served as president of Rochar Cosmeceuticals Inc. prior to her appointment to the FDA in 2016.

ABS-CBN News has reached out to Puno for comment but she has yet to respond.

The Department of Health, meanwhile, appointed Undersecretary Rolando Enrique as officer-in-charge of the FDA, one of its attached agencies. --With a report from Dexter Ganibe, ABS-CBN News