DAVAO CITY (August 20)— Secretary Liza Maza of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has announced her resignation early this morning in a press conference.
Maza revealed she already sent her “irrevocable” resignation letter to President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a press conference, Maza said “Gusto ko lang i-aanunsyo sa araw na ito na kaninang umaga nagsumite na ako ng aking letter of resignation kay Presidente Duterte at sinabi ko na nakapag-isip-isip ako sa buong taon na hinaharass tayo hanggang this weekend at I came to the conclusion, I cannot work under the circumstances,” she said.
Maza said her resignation is a manifestation of protest over the August 14 announcement of the President terminating the peace talks with the communist.
Maza said, she agreed to be a member of the Cabinet and lead convenor of NAPC, on the hope that she could help facilitate in the social, economic, and political change of the country, as she was actively participated in the peace talks.
She stressed that she cannot stand with the recent political alignment, citing the comeback of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as House Speaker and the revival of the Marcos family into the corridors of power.
Maza asked “All of these forces have returned so how can we realize the changes?”
In 2016, Duterte appointed four Cabinet Secretaries aligned with the communist group as nominated by the Communist Party of the Philippines.
But the powerful Commission on Appointments did not concur the appointments of then Social Services Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Agrarian reform Secretary Rafael Mariano.
Maza, formerly the representative of Gabriela Party-list, was appointed to the advisory body tasked to craft poverty alleviation agenda and oversees the government’s social reform program in 2016.
Maza also fears more attacks against her, saying the “rightist, military” forces have “consolidated” to crack down on leftists like herself.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque thanked Maza for her service to the government and said they regretted her decision to leave the Cabinet.
Duterte had appointed left-leaning leaders to his Cabinet as a confidence-building measure with communists at the start of his presidency.
Some members of the left-leaning groups accused the military advisers of Duterte of destroying the planned peace talks.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
