NAPC’s Maza resigns from Duterte’s Cabinet
MANILA — National Anti-Poverty Commission chief Liza Maza announced her irrevocable resignation from government yesterday.
She submitted her letter to President Rodrigo Duterte a week after a Nueva Ecija court dismissed the case filed against her, former Agrarian Reform secretary Rafael Mariano and former Bayan Muna reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño.
In a press briefing, Maza said that she is grateful for having been given an opportunity to serve the government.
She cited the government's decision to terminate the peace negotiations with communist rebels and the return of Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo (Pampanga) and the Marcoses to power as the reasons for her decision to quit.
“His latest pronouncement, however, on finally terminating the talks brings me to the conclusion that these reforms may no longer be possible under the current administration. In any case, genuine change cannot happen when old forces of fascism and corruption and the defenders of elite and foreign interests, are consolidating their position in government,” Maza said.
Maza and Mariano were among the nominees of the National Democratic Front, which represents the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army at peace talks, to the Duterte administration.
In preparation for the resumption of formal peace talks in 2016, Duterte said he was willing to appoint NDF nominees and progressives to the departments of Agrarian Reform, Environment, Labor, and Social Welfare and Development.