MANILA -- While Malacañang expressed regret over Liza Maza's departure at the time when she enjoys the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo Duterte, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said he wishes her "the best."
“She had the trust and confidence of the President and she resigned. We always regret when people who enjoy the trust and confidence of the President leave their post,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
Maza, one of Duterte’s left-leaning appointees, tendered to the President her “irrevocable resignation” as secretary and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) on Monday.
She cited the cancellation of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as among the reasons for her resignation.
“I don’t know really why she had to connect the peace talks with her work in the NAPC,” Roque reacted.
Roque maintained that Duterte will only resume peace negotiations with the CPP if talks will be held in the Philippines and if the CPP’s armed wing, the New People’s Army, will stop collecting revolutionary taxes.
He said the President will also talk with the communists if they will agree to stop insurgency and that they will stay in the designated camp that Duterte has promised to provide for them during the pendency of the peace talks.
“In any case, contrary to what Liza Maza said, peace talks will continue but on a local level,” Roque explained.
Roque said Maza could have used NAPC as “perfect opportunity” for the Left to show that they can make a difference in public service.
“You’re right, it could have been a perfect opportunity for the Left to show that they can led and NAPC is a very important office in the government,” Roque said.
He, however, commended Maza for addressing poverty in the country for last two years under her watch as NAPC chief.
“Well, in fairness to her, a survey showed that the Filipinos rated themselves to be less hungry and there are also programs although this one program was pursuant to a bill I filed in Congress, the feeding program which definitely would have a positive impact on poverty,” Roque said.
Roque clarified that nobody has forced Maza to resign, saying it was her “voluntary act” to leave the Duterte administration.
He thanked Maza for her “invaluable service” to the government for the past two years.
Maza, a former representative of Gabriela, resigned a week after a Nueva Ecija court dismissed a murder case against her and three others -- former Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna and former Agriculture Secretary Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis. (PNA)
