Militant groups bemoan CA’s rejection of Taguiwalo

Earstwhile DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Progressive groups lamented Wednesday the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) rejection of Judy Taguiwalo’s appointment as Social Welfare secretary, saying that President Rodrigo Duterte’s “nonexistent support” led to her rejection.

“Truth to tell, Duterte holds a supermajority in Congress and Senate and could, if he so wishes, easily push for the confirmation of Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Agrarian Reform Secretary Ka Paeng Mariano,” youth group Anakbayan national chair Vencer Crisostomo said in a statement.

“Duterte’s nonexistent support for them only shows that he is not interested in genuine reforms,” he added.

READ: CA rejects Taguiwalo’s appointment

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also blamed Duterte for Taguiwalo’s rejection and branded his regime as “reactionary.”

“This one is on Duterte as it is on the CA. The rejection exposes the utter bankruptcy of the current ruling system and the reactionary character of the Duterte regime,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said in a statement.

The CA, in its executive session on Wednesday afternoon, rejected Taguiwalo’s confirmation as Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary.

Crisostomo and Reyes also lashed at Duterte for not supporting “the people’s voice in his Cabinet.”

“Taguiwalo also served as the people’s voice in the Cabinet against the Duterte regime’s anti-people and fascist policies. She never compromised her stand against martial law and for the peace talks with the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines),” Crisostomo said.

“Once again, vested interests and bureaucrat capitalism triumph over good governance, pro-people policies and genuine service,” Reyes added.

Reyes also pointed out that the President could have convinced his allies in Congress, but chose to “bend the knee” to lawmakers.

“Duterte could have asked his allies in Congress to confirm former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo yet he again chose to ‘bend the knee’ to pork barrel lawmakers, neoliberal economic managers and the militarists in his cabinet,” the activist said.

Despite the rejection, both groups expressed their gratitude to the outgoing secretary, saying that they “look forward to working with her in other arenas in the struggle for genuine change.”

Taguiwalo is the third member of Duterte Cabinet who was rejected by the CA, following Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and Environment Secretary Gina Lopez. JE