Duterte names former Gabriela rep DSWD Usec

President Duterte has appointed former Gabriela representative and Davao native Luzviminda Ilagan undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Palace released a copy of her Sept. 13 appointment on Thursday, the same day the leftwing Makabayan bloc with which she is affiliated announced it had broken up with the majority in the House of Representatives.

Ilagan’s appointment also followed the recent Commission on Appointment’s rejection of fellow militant Judy Taguiwalo as DSWD secretary.

President Duterte and the Left had started off as allies in the beginning of his administration.

But their relationship has soured, with the militants condemning what it said were antipeople policies of the administration and Mr. Duterte’s strongman tendencies.

A women’s rights advocate, Ilagan served as Davao City councilor from 1998 to 2001 when Mr. Duterte was Davao City representative.

She supported Mr. Duterte during the 2016 campaign and defended him from criticism of his womanizing, telling voters to look beyond his past and focus on what he could do as president.

Ilagan served as Gabriela representative in the House from 2007 to 2016.