Mariano: 'Tuloy ang laban'

MANILA - Malacañang on Wednesday said it “regrets” the decision of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) to reject the ad interim appointment of the now former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano.

“Improving the quality of life of our farmers is the commitment of the Duterte administration, and Sec. Mariano has been pivotal in promoting farmers’ rights and welfare and ensuring their security of land tenure,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“Our people will always be grateful to Sec. Mariano for his dedicated and passionate service to the nation.”

Mariano, a peasant leader, was the second left-leaning appointee ousted from President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet after former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo also failed to get the CA's nod last month.

Duterte had appointed leftists into his cabinet as he sought to broker a peace deal with communist rebels at the start of his administration.

The recent rejections came amid a suspension of the peace negotiations following rebel attacks on state forces.

Aside from Mariano and Taguiwalo, the bicameral CA had also voted against the confirmations of President Rodrigo Duterte's appointees, Perfecto Yasay Jr. for foreign affairs and Gina Lopez for the environment portfolio.

Majority of the panel voted against Mariano, according to Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who led the confirmation hearings.

At least 13 lawmakers rejected his ad interim appointment.

Mariano, a former Anakpawis party-list representative, faced opposition during the confirmation hearings, including that of Nueva Ecija landowner Maria Theresa Gallego.

In her testimony before the CA last week, Gallego accused Mariano of allowing members of militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas to trespass and attack her family’s property.

• READ: DAR chief backed armed 'land grabbers' in N. Ecija, says CA oppositor

Mariano was also tagged in the attack of the New People’s Army on facilities of Lapanday Foods Corp. in Davao City in April.

During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, however, Mariano insisted that he does not endorse an armed struggle.

Meeting his supporters outside the Senate after his rejection, Mariano said he would continue the fight.

"Bigo man si Ka Paeng pero magpapatuloy pa din ang kaniyang pagsisilbi sa mga magsasaka," he said.

"Tuloy ang laban para sa tunay na programang pang-agraryo," he added. -- with a report from Abner Mercado, ABS-CBN News