By Cielito M. Reganit
MANILA, April 5 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte on
Wednesday said he has just fired an Undersecretary for allegedly attempting to
reverse a National Food Authority (NFA) decision to put rice importation
activities on hold while the harvest season is in full swing.
In his speech during a harvest festival in Talavera,
Nueva Ecija, the President said he was ‘appalled’ on learning that a female
Undersecretary reviewed the decision of (NFA administrator) Jaon Aquino denying
the importation of rice.
“Eh istorya-istorya na gustong magbigay. And it was
appealed doon mismo sa Malacañan. So part of the Office of the President ‘yan.
May isang undersecretary na babae, hold over ‘yan, pagusapan namin sa chopper
kanina,” he said.
“Sabi ko, ‘Anong mukha ko na iharap sa mga farmers?’ na
why would we allow importation to compete with the local product? Hanggang
ngayon, hindi ko mabasa anong ginawa nilang rason. Of course hindi natuloy kasi
binara ko. Subsequently, sabi ko stop. Open market na tayo, but you know you
have to protect the Filipino,” Duterte said.
The President said he gave the order to dismiss the
official upon landing in Nueva Ecija.
“Kaya sabi ko kanina papunta ako dito, pa-landing sabi ko
tawagan mo Malacañang, sabihin mo she’s fired,” he said.
He added that at least five more officials will be axed
within the week.
“Pangalawa siya. May isa pa, may dalawa pang
undersecretary. So bale at the end of the day, mamaya meron ng mga lima in a
week. Eh hindi ako magdadalawang isip, maski kaibigan kita,” Duterte said.
Later in the sidelines, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol
identified the fired official as Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Reina Valdez
of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
Piñol told reporters that Valdez was fired for overruling
Aquino's decision to suspend rice importation as it is still harvest season in
the Philippines. (PNA)
