DA chief Piñol filed courtesy resignation, says Bong Go

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has submitted a courtesy resignation to President Rodrigo Duterte, former presidential top aide and Senator-elect Bong Go said on Thursday night.

BREAKING: Senator-elect Bong Go says Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol gave Pres. Duterte a courtesy resignation @gmanews

— Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) June 27, 2019

According to the tweets of GMA News' Joseph Morong, Go said supposed friction with Duterte's economic played a role in Piñol's resignation.

The secretary reportedly asked that he relieved from the Department of Agriculture.

Go, who was at Malacanang to take his oath, read Pinol's letter to the President before reporters.   He said he was furnished a copy of the letter.

In the letter, Pinol asked that he be relieved from his current post at the DA and be reassigned with other post, specifically naming the Mindanao Development Authority.

"With the best interest of the Department of Agriculture and its stakeholders in mind, may I request that I be relieved from my present position as Secretary of Agriculture and reassign to whichever agency  you believe I would be effective including the Mindanao Development Authority," Pinol said.

Interviewed by reporters, Duterte said he was considering transferring Pinol to the Mindanao Development Authority, which is also a Cabinet rank.

"Sabi ko pumunta ka na lang doon, tulungan mo na lang ako," he said.

Duterte said he needs someone to help with the newly created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which is the "first organized government that they have long wished for."

The BARMM is a new political entity that replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The President, however, said he will have to first meet with Bangsamoro region interim Chief Minister Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim before he accepts Piñol's courtesy resignation.—NB, GMA News