Ni: Leonel M. Abasola at Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Tuluyan nang tinanggal bilang cabinet member si Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo nang ibasura kahapon ng Commission on Appointment (CA), sa ikatlo at huling pagkakataon, ang kanyang ad interim appointment.
Ayon kay Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Almario, sa executive session ng CA ay umabot sa 13 ang kumontra kay Taguiwalo bilang kalihim ng DSWD.
Sina Taguiwalo at Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano ay ilan lamang sa mga inirekomenda ng National Democratic Front (NDF) na maging bahagi ng pamahalaan.
Hindi naman naiwasang madismaya ng ilang senador, kaalyado man o kritiko ng administrasyon, sa sinapit ni Taguiwalo.
“Political imprisonment is no bar to public office, she was not put there to be a memento, she was put there by her quality and not by affiliation, she represents all of us,” ayon kay Senate President Ralph Recto.
Bukod kay Mariano, nakabimbin pa rin sa CA sina Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu at Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.
Kaugnay nito, nalungkot ang Palasyo sa naging desisyon ng CA.
Sa isang pahayag, kinilala ni Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella ang mga pagsisikap ni Taguiwalo bilang hepe ng DSWD.
“We are saddened by the Commission on Appointments’ rejection of Secretary Judy Taguiwalo,” ani Abella. “Secretary Taguiwalo had served the Duterte administration with passion, profession and integrity. She made an impact in the lives of many Filipinos in her tenure as DSWD Secretary.”
Ayon kay Abella, si Pangulong Duterte ay kasalukuyang “looking and studying for a possible replacement.”
