(Eagle News) — A leftist group has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to stand by two “progressive” individuals whose appointments to several departments have been bypassed by the powerful Commission on Appointments.
In a statement, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said it would be a “big loss and a huge embarrassment for the Duterte government” if the appointments of Judy Taguiwalo and Rafael Mariano at the helm of the social welfare and agrarian reform units, respectively, were not confirmed.
Taguiwalo and Mariano were two of several Duterte appointees bypassed by the powerful congressional body.
The others are Paulyn Jean Ubial and Gina Lopez of the health and environment departments, respectively.
In his recent speeches, Duterte has come out in full support of Lopez, an anti-mining advocate.
The CA already recently rejected Perfecto Yasay’s appointment at the helm of the foreign affairs department, this after he allegedly lied about his citizenship.
“President Duterte… must stand with the Cabinet secretaries from the Left if he is serious in bringing about reforms in his government,” Bayan said, noting that Taguiwalo and Mariano were ” among the most hardworking officials of the administration who are directly serving the poor…”
According to Bayan, Taguiwalo was “having problems with her confirmation because of her refusal to play ball with lawmakers intent on continuing the practice of pork barrel patronage.”
It said these lawmakers were “asserting their entitlement and control over certain (Department of Social Welfare Department) funds.”
“Lawmakers are insisting that they have a say in the implementation of certain programs and projects vis-a-vis their districts and constituents. This is already in direct contravention of a Supreme Court ruling against intervention by members of Congress once the national budget is passed,” it said, in reference to a November 2013 decision that declared certain provisions in the pork barrel system as illegal.
The SC had contended the system “allowed legislators to wield, in varying gradations, non-oversight, post-enactment authority in vital areas of budget executions (thus violating) the principle of separation of powers,” and allowed for the “nontextualization” of items in the appropriations bill.
As for Mariano, Bayan said his confirmation was “being blocked because of his pro-farmer stand.”
“The landlord-dominated congress is opposed to genuine land reform and the 2-year moratorium on land conversion. Ka Paeng (Mariano) has been at the forefront of pushing for land reform despite the limits of the law and the fierce opposition of the big landowners such as those in Hacienda Luisita and Lapanday Farms,” Bayan said.
“We support (Secretary) Judy’s principled stand against congressional pork. She must be allowed to perform her functions minus the dictates or intervention of narrow political interests…Congress must confirm the appointments of Judy and Ka Paeng (Mariano),” Bayan said.