Earstwhile DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“I am proud to be ‘left,’” outgoing Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said on Thursday.

This amid speculations that her being identified with the leftist groups could be one reason why her appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday.

“Pwede kayong mag label e. At the end of the day kaliwa man o hindi, ang bottom line would be sabi ko nga competence, integrity at pagmamahal sa bayan,” Taguiwalo said over DZMM.

(You can give labels. At the end of the day, whether you are left or not, the bottom line would be competence, integrity and love for your country)

“And on that basis alone, sa tingin ko I’m proud to be kaliwa (I think I’m proud to be left),” she said, adding that “To be left is to serve the people with competence ,with integrity and with patriotism. Yun lang naman ang hinihingi ng mga taumbayan natin e (That’s precisely what our people want).”

Taguiwalo earlier raised the possibilities that her stand against the “pork barrel” funds and the proposed tax reform package could have been the reasons why her appointment was rejected by the Commission.

She disclosed that some lawmakers had approached her asking for the release of alleged “hidden pork” within her department but she denied these requests.

READ: Taguiwalo: Some lawmakers ‘feel entitled’ to ‘hidden pork’

Taguiwalo said corruption in government was so rampant that even the P5,000 assistance allotted to victims of the Yolanda Typhoon had not been fully received by the beneficiaries.

“Sa iba hong baranggay kinukuha pa ng kapitana ang P2,000. I reported that to the President already so they have to investigate. Wala naman ho kaming investigation at saka prosecutory powers,” she said.

“Talamak ho ang corruption and we have to take steps para masarhan yun and I hope I contributed a little to arrest it and I hope whoever succeeds me will continue to ensure na yung pera ng tao e napupunta sa tao,” Taguiwalo added.

(Corruption is rampant and we have to take steps to stop it and I hope I contributed a little to arrest it and I hope whoever succeeds me will continue to ensure that public funds would really go straight to the people) JPV

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