DOF Usec Cielo Magno receives official termination from Palace

Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno, who was reportedly forced to resign due to her social media post allegedly throwing shade on rice price caps, has received official communication from the Palace regarding the termination of her appointment.

Earlier, the Office of the Executive Secretary disclosed that Magno’s appointment was terminated because “she clearly does not support the administration and its programs for nation building.”

The OES claimed that Magno has been opposing the policies of the administration, noting that she has been voicing it on social media long before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had assumed office.

Magno, on Friday, posted a copy of the letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

The letter refers to the “expiration” of Magno’s tenure as undersecretary of the Department of Finance, effective immediately.

In the caption accompanying the posted letter, Magno quipped, “May nanalo na po. Hindi po siya resignation or termination. Expiration po talaga ang tamang term (There is already a winner. It is not resignation nor termination. The correct term is expiration)," with a smiley emoji.

“Officially received the document this morning. Maraming salamat po. It was an honor serving the country. Makakatulog po ako ng mahimbing knowing that I did my best serving our country and advocating the interest of our people,” she said.

Magno earlier confirmed to GMA News Online that she has resigned from her post.

The axed DOF official also confirmed that she was asked to step down by the Palace.

A reliable source earlier said that Magno’s apparent firing was triggered by her Facebook post that allegedly threw “shade” over the imposition of rice price ceiling.

The post in question shows a graph representing the law of supply and demand — a concept in economics that explains how prices of commodities are influenced by supply and consumer demand — accompanied by a caption “I miss teaching” and a teacher emoji.

As undersecretary, Magno oversaw the DOF’s Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group, which is responsible for formulating tax reform proposals and other fiscal policy recommendations as the legislative liaison of the DOF.

Magno was also the chairperson of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board’s Technical Committee and the Inter-Agency Investment Promotion Coordination Committee.

Magno said she will return to the academe.

Prior to her stint as DOF undersecretary, Magno was an associate professor in the University of the Philippines’ School of Economics.—AOL, GMA Integrated News