Taguiwalo on being at odds with Duterte: Differences, boundaries are clear

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte knows where she stands regarding issues such as women's rights and martial law.

The women's rights advocate and Martial Law political detainee said Duterte knew about her history when he appointed her.

"The President knows where I stand. I think alam niya nung in-appoint niya ako, alam niya 'yung history ko. Kaliwa nga ako eh. Ang tawag nga sa 'kin noon, 'O, 'yung mga ex-convicts 'yan,'" she said in an interview on News To Go.

"Pinapaliwanag ko na hindi naman ako ex-convict; political detainee lang. I was imprisoned during Martial Law. I was not convicted with any crime, he knows that. He knows where I'm coming from," she added.

Duterte also knew her stance when it comes to women's rights, Taguiwalo said.

The President has previously delivered rape jokes that stirred up criticisms, particularly from women's rights groups.

Despite at times being at odds with the President, Taguiwalo said the boundaries are clear and there is a time and place to bring up these issues.

"At the same time malinaw din sa akin 'yung mga boundaries, 'yung mga differences diyan, and how we will address that. At the end of the day, ang bottomline ay paglilingkod sa bayan at sambayanan," Taguiwalo said.

She added that the government offers programs that help women, and that the public should make a distinction between what is being done for women and Duterte's remarks.

"Kailangan ding linawin na may mga programa at proyekto ang gobyerno na patuloy na tumutulong sa mga kababaihan. So mag-di-differentiate ka dun sa expressions niya dun sa actual na nangyayari," she said.

Taguiwalo added that she is focusing on serving the people and doing her job as part of Duterte's Cabinet.

"Busy siya, busy din ako, so ganyan 'yung proseso ngayon sa paglilingkod sa bayan. It is not an easy job for him. It is not easy job for us on our part...but at the end of the day, sabi natin hanggang kayang maglingkod, at kayang makapaglingkod nang walang korapsyon, na may malasakit, gagawin ko ang aking magagawa," she said. —Jessica Bartolome/KG, GMA News