SECRETARY Emmañuel Piñol will continue to head the Department of Agriculture (DA) until his possible reassignment to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday, June 27, that he was considering appointing Piñol as the new head of MinDA, replacing the late Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto who passed away on May 9.
But he still has to discuss this with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Al Hajj Ebrahim Murad and other Bangsamoro officials.
"I cannot see anybody in the horizon, except Piñol, who knows and grew up, born in Mindanao. He's a farmer and [former] governor. That MinDA position is a Cabinet position," Duterte said in a chance interview with Palace reporters Thursday.
"Sabi ko pumunta ka na lang doon, tulungan mo na lang ako. Get them started, hurry up, hurry them up, so that they will have a first regular organized government that they have long wished for. Ang problema, I have yet to see Murad and all officials of the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)," he added.
(I told him to go there and help me. Get them started, hurry up, hurry them up, so that they will have a first regular organized government that they have long wished for... The problem is I have yet to see Murad and all officials of the BARMM.)
Piñol submitted his resignation letter to Duterte on Thursday afternoon and asked the latter to transfer him to MinDA. The President, however, did not accept Piñol's resignation.
In his resignation letter, Piñol said he would be ready to assume a new post by August of this year, should the President approve his request.
"Please be assured of my support and loyalty to your administration, not only as the President of the country but as a friend," the Agriculture chief said.
Duterte made it clear that he was happy with Piñol's performance as the head of the DA.
When asked if he had a complaint against Piñol, the President said: "Wala. Corruption, wala (None. There's no corruption issue). He is not corrupt. He's just talkative."
Piñol was criticized for bringing anti-riot policemen when he went to Oriental Mindoro to hold a dialog with the 22 Filipino fishermen whose boat, F/B Gem-ver, was rammed by a Chinese vessel while anchored near Recto Bank within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
The 22 Filipinos were abandoned by the Chinese at sea and later rescued by Vietnamese fishermen. (SunStar Philippines)