Makabayan nat’l committee to assess alliance with Duterte in meeting next week

The Makabayan National Executive Committee will hold an emergency meeting next week to assess the Makabayan bloc's continuous membership with the Duterte-allied House majority coalition.

This was announced by Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate in a statement on Wednesday, following the Commission on Appointment's rejection of Rafael Mariano as Agrarian Reform secretary

According to Zarate, there is nothing more to hope for from the Duterte administration with Mariano's rejection, as well as that of Judy Taguiwalo as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

"Babagal na naman po ang serbisyo sa DSWD at hindi na naman po ipapamahagi ang lupa sa mga magsasaka," he said.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, who is part of the seven-member Makabayan bloc, had earlier said they have "practically" broken their alliance with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Tinio said there is no longer basis to continue the alliance with Duterte, given the President's stance on several issues that are opposed by the Makabayan bloc.

Other members of the bloc include ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, Gabriela Women's Party's Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis' Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan's Sarah Elago. —KBK, GMA News