Palace thanks Liza Maza for her service, takes exception to claim about peace talks

Malacañang on Monday thanked Liza Maza for her service to the nation as lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, even as it took exception to one of the reasons she cited in her resignation.

Maza, a former Gabriela party-list representative, quit her post after she was cleared by a Nueva Ecija court of murder charges in relation to the death of alleged supporters of a rival party.

She cited the government's decision to terminate the peace talks with communist rebels as among the reasons for her resignation. The other is the return of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Marcos family to the forefront of politics.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque thanked Maza for her “invaluable service” to the nation even as he wondered why Maza connected the peace talks between the government and communist rebels to her resignation.

Roque said Maza was given the opportunity to show that the Left can “can lead.”

“The President gave them that opportunity and she decided to leave. Wala namang nagpapaalis sa kanya,” he said.

“I don’t know, really, why she had to connect the peace talks with her work in the National Anti-Poverty Commission. It would’ve been a perfect opportunity for the Left to show that they can lead,” he added.

Roque said it will be up to the remaining leftist members of the Cabinet if they will follow suit and leave.

“Sa amin po, walang nagpapaalis sa kanila, but this is a voluntary act of Liza Maza,” he said.

Current Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod is a former Anakpawis party-list representative. He was also a political detainee during the Marcos dictatorship.

Roque said the peace negotiations will continue subject to the conditions set by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Accomplishments

Roque praised a few of Maza’s accomplishments as NAPC secretary, noting surveys that indicate less hunger in the Philippines and the success of the feeding program.

“In fairness to her, lumabas naman yung mga surveys that the Filipinos rated themselves to be less hungry,” Roque said.

“Lumabas din yung mga programa, 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 he has yet to get the feedback from the President on Maza’s resignation.

“We always regret when people who enjoy the trust and confidence of the president leave their post, but I'm sure there will be other applicants to the post,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News