By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
The Commission on Appointments on Wednesday rejected the nomination of Rafael Mariano as Agrarian Reform secretary.
More than 13 members of the CA voted against the former militant lawmaker, citing the joint resolution of security officials of Region 11 that recommended that Mariano be removed as a member of the government peace panel early this year.
The officials made the recommendation after Mariano was linked to the planning and attack by the New People’s Army of a banana plant of the Lapanday Group of Companies and the Lorenzo family.
The resolution was signed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, four governors and Davao
Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio.
The CA also asked how Mariano could implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program fairly if he was also convinced the Agrarian Reform Law was defective.
The CA also said Mariano was biased, as based on documents, he gave undue advantage to the farmers who were part of his old organization that was not a beneficiary of the CARP.
Mariano is the fourth appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte to be rejected by the powerful CA.
Perfecto Yasay, Gina Lopez and Judy Taguiwalo were rejected as foreign affairs, environment, and social welfare secretaries.
