DAVAO CITY — Maria Belen Acosta, the beleaguered chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), has reiterated her intention to seek legal redress through a quo warranto case to challenge the appointment of Leo Magno as the new chair by Malacañang.
Acosta is still holding office and is not planning to step down given the situation.
“This is the first time in the history of the Philippines where a cabinet position, which is not vacant, has been assigned to another person, resulting in two appointees for one position,” Acosta stated during her 41-minute press conference on Friday, May 24.
Acosta emphasized that the current situation is a clear attack on her as a person and a public servant, noting that she has spent sleepless nights contemplating her undue removal. She repeatedly invoked Section 7 of Republic Act 9996, the law creating MinDA, which mandates that the MinDA chair “shall serve a term of six (6) years from the date of his/her appointment unless removed for cause.”
“I do not have any pending civil, administrative, or criminal cases before the proper courts. I have not been convicted of any crime. Simply put, there is no prerequisite cause,” she emphasized.
In a letter dated May 21, 2024, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin stated, “Given the nature of the position of Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority as primarily confidential and policy-determining, the President, as the appointing authority, validly and effectively removed you for cause due to the loss of his trust and confidence in you.”
Acosta countered Bersamin’s statement, saying, “The post is also not a position of trust, in the sense that I do not keep confidential information to warrant such.”
ALSO READ: acosta-terminated-due-to-loss-of-trust-and-confidence-palace
During the same press conference, Acosta instructed her staff to stay the course and continue serving the people of Mindanao.
However, while Acosta was holding her press conference on the 12th floor, Magno was holding an executive committee and Management Committee meeting on the 10th floor of the Pryce Tower Building.
Asked to comment of the case filed by Acosta, Magno said “It is her legal right, we live in a democratic society.”
When asked about the case, Acosta said she could not reveal further details as the case has reportedly been filed in court. When asked if she is willing to sit down with Margno, Acosta said it is impossible now because of the case.
Acosta also mentioned that she did not seek the help of Vice President Sara Duterte or former President Rodrigo Duterte but instead turns to God for guidance.
