Left-nominated Cabinet secretaries attend anti-Duterte rally

Leftist Cabinet members of President Rodrigo Duterte joined an anti-Duterte rally on Monday just before they entered the Batasan Pambansa Complex to hear his second State of the Nation Address.

Secretaries Paeng Mariano of the Department of Agrarian Reform and Judy Taguiwalo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Liza Maza were spotted at the anti-Duterte rally along Batasan Road.

Maza said they were fighting for the issues which concern the Left and were not present in opposition of Duterte himself.

She added that Duterte had no problems with their joining the rally, saying it would be more glaring and their absence noticed if they had opted not to join the activity.

"Si Presidente naman, sabi niya 'you are free to [join the] rally. Wala naman kayong problema sa akin'," Maza said.

"Gusto ko lang din i-remind ang ating gobyerno yung mga dapat nitong gawin para maibsan yung kahirapan at maresolba ang problema ng ating mga magsasaka, at ganon din yung para sa kapayapaan," she added.

Taguiwalo, meanwhile, recalled that they joined the protest last year without the approval of Duterte.

"Last year nandito din kami, wala ding clearance sa kanya. Kaliwa pa din naman kami. Yun ang sabi niya sa amin eh. Hindi naman nagbago 'yan," Taguiwalo said.

Maza said they will continue to push for the issues that the Left wanted the government to address, including the end of contractualization and the continuation of peace talks with Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

"Lagi kaming nandito every year. Siguro mas nakakapagtaka kung wala kami dito. [Patuloy kami sa] pagsuporta sa mga issues like contractualization, panawagan sa kapayapaan. We know change is difficult but we are there to push for it," Maza said.

Maza said Duterte won't appoint then in the Cabinet in the first place if the agenda of left-leaning groups is not pushed.

"Palagay ko kinuha kami ni President Duterte sa Gabinete dahil meron kaming ibang perspektiba at alternatibong solusyon sa mga matagal nang problema sa bansa natin katulad ng kahirapan," Maza said.

"This is what we will comtinue to bring in the Cabinet. We are going to be the voice of the social movement where we came from at patuloy naming gagampanan yun," she added.

Maza also assured Duterte that they will support his presidency despite their attendance to the protest action.

"Nandito naman kami para tulungan si Presidente na tahakin talaga ang tunay na pagbabago... We are always there to give suggestions and recommendations to propose policies. We will deliver a voice in the interest of the people," Maza said. —NB/KVD/ALG, GMA News