As far as leftist members of President Duterte’s Cabinet are concerned, there have been “no tensions” between them and former military men also appointed to Cabinet positions over the first year of the Duterte administration. “We continue to dialogue with the President on issues, including those everyone knows we’ve always had a position on. “I also don’t think there should be a perception that the bureaucracy is being militarized,” Maza said, carefully. Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, also formerly of the Makabayan bloc, pushes for the same agenda. Meanwhile, while Mariano is still waiting for the confirmation of his appointment, he nevertheless thanks President Duterte for appointing him as DAR Secretary.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 20, 2017 19:41 UTC