NAPC’s Maza: Leftist Cabinet execs to push for peace talks despite struggles within Duterte admin

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) lead convenor Liza Maza is not going to let “militarists, neoliberals, and voices of the past” drown the views of the left-leaning Cabinet members of President Rodrigo Duterte.

At a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, Maza said she believes that Duterte still trusts her, Social Welfare Sec. Judy Taguiwalo, and Agrarian Reform Sec. Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano although they are Left-recommended officials.

She added that they also trust the President even after the peace talks with the communist rebels were recently scrapped.

“The fact that we are still here means that we still maintain our level of trust, you know, the reason why we are here and the reason why we accepted the offer is still there ‘no,” she said.

“‘Yung reason kung bakit kami – namin tinanggap ‘yung posisyon bilang mga miyembro ng Gabinete ay nandoon pa naman. Ang isa ay ‘yung espasyo para gumawa ng ilang mga reporma. Iyong peace talks, which also one of the reasons, hindi pa naman namin gini-give-up ‘yon,” she added.

Maza then stressed that staying in Duterte’s Cabinet will allow them to relay the sentiments of the people to Cabinet where she said voices of the militarists, the neo-liberalists, and the past remain strong.

“So it’s a struggle within and we will engage in that. Hindi pa namin i-gi-give up ‘yung role na ‘yon na mag-engage sa loob ng Gabinete na kung saan nandiyan din at malakas ‘yung boses ng mga militarista. Iyong boses ng mga ano neo-liberal, ‘yung boses ng mga dati,” she said.

Asked to elaborate on her statements, Maza replied that it is part of Duterte’s goal to be inclusive.

“Well, I don't want to elaborate on it ‘no.  Kasi alam naman natin na meron diyang mga dati na ‘di ba. Titingnan ninyo lang ‘yung background ng mga tao. Nandiyan naman na,” she said.

“So but what is important I supposed for us to understand is that because the President is very inclusive ‘di ba? Sinabi naman niya iyan na, ‘O meron akong nasa kanan, meron ako nasa kaliwa. Isasama ko kayong lahat,’” she said. — RSJ, GMA News