Piñol to be transferred to MinDA
Published Jul 5, 2019 11:23 pm
By Genalyn Kabiling
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol will leave the "agriculture portfolio" and move to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to serve as the government's "point man" to the Bangsamoro autonomous region, President Duterte announced Friday.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
At the inauguration of a rice processing center in Leyte, the President said he needed Piñol to help hasten the development of the new autonomous region after noticing the delay in the government efforts.
"I’d like to just also mention that si Secretary Piñol will be leaving the agriculture portfolio. Hirap ako sa Mindanao because we have created a new political entity there, the BOL or BARMM, for that matter as it is known today," he said.
"There seems to be a lag na nakikita ko, there’s not much activity in really trying to devolve all --- all powers of the national government relevant to the existence of BARMM. They seemed to be… I am not saying that they are not moving. But ever so slow that I would need a point man there in the likes of Secretary Piñol,” he added.
Piñol was among the government officials present at the launch of the Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Complex in Alangalang, Leyte.
The President’s latest comment appeared he has accepted Piñol’s resignation offer.
Last week, Piñol sent a letter to the President requesting to be relieved from his post and reassigned to another agency.
The President later bared plans to transfer Piñol to head MinDa but had to talk to Bangsamoro Transition Authority interim chief minister Ebrahim Murad first. Duterte also denied that Piñol was moving out of DA because of corruption, insisting he believes his fellow Mindanaoan was qualified to lead MinDa.
The autonomous region, inaugurated last March, is currently led by the BTA, the interim caretaker government until the regional leaders in 2022.
In his speech in Leyte, Duterte recognized that MinDa was "a special entity geared towards the full development of Mindanao."
"With the changing political horizon there, we have to do what we promised to the Moro people," he said.
The President also insisted that he wants peace in Mindanao after "so many years of war." He said he hopes the creation of the Bangsamoro region would foster "relative peace" in the south.
"I like to really seek peace for everybody. I do not want war in Mindanao. It would bring nothing but bleeding human beings. Problem is itong mga traditional revolutionary, it’s only an issue of land and their territories," he added.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
At the inauguration of a rice processing center in Leyte, the President said he needed Piñol to help hasten the development of the new autonomous region after noticing the delay in the government efforts.
"I’d like to just also mention that si Secretary Piñol will be leaving the agriculture portfolio. Hirap ako sa Mindanao because we have created a new political entity there, the BOL or BARMM, for that matter as it is known today," he said.
"There seems to be a lag na nakikita ko, there’s not much activity in really trying to devolve all --- all powers of the national government relevant to the existence of BARMM. They seemed to be… I am not saying that they are not moving. But ever so slow that I would need a point man there in the likes of Secretary Piñol,” he added.
Piñol was among the government officials present at the launch of the Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Complex in Alangalang, Leyte.
The President’s latest comment appeared he has accepted Piñol’s resignation offer.
Last week, Piñol sent a letter to the President requesting to be relieved from his post and reassigned to another agency.
The President later bared plans to transfer Piñol to head MinDa but had to talk to Bangsamoro Transition Authority interim chief minister Ebrahim Murad first. Duterte also denied that Piñol was moving out of DA because of corruption, insisting he believes his fellow Mindanaoan was qualified to lead MinDa.
The autonomous region, inaugurated last March, is currently led by the BTA, the interim caretaker government until the regional leaders in 2022.
In his speech in Leyte, Duterte recognized that MinDa was "a special entity geared towards the full development of Mindanao."
"With the changing political horizon there, we have to do what we promised to the Moro people," he said.
The President also insisted that he wants peace in Mindanao after "so many years of war." He said he hopes the creation of the Bangsamoro region would foster "relative peace" in the south.
"I like to really seek peace for everybody. I do not want war in Mindanao. It would bring nothing but bleeding human beings. Problem is itong mga traditional revolutionary, it’s only an issue of land and their territories," he added.