Magsasaka: PBBM trusts Rodriguez
MAGSASAKA Party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat is placing his trust in Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez in assisting the President who is concurrently managing the Department of Agriculture as its Secretary.
“As the President of the country and at the same time acting as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, these gargantuan tasks would require all the help and proper guidance from his advisers. Everyone in the Office of the President has to step up, particularly the Executive Secretary,” Cabatbat said.
Cabatbat believes that Rodriguez’s loyalty to the President cannot be questioned. Being a private practitioner himself before joining the government, Rodriguez has no record of corruption – which he believes is the key to overturning the rampant corruption and smuggling that has plagued the government for decades, to the detriment of the Filipino people.
“The President must have the right reasons to trust Vic Rodriguez. I am hopeful that his untarnished reputation would continue while serving the President. He must always be on guard against lobbyists with no good intention for the farmers and the agriculture sector,” Cabatbat said in a statement.
Before the adjournment of the 18th Congress, Cabatbat spearheaded the investigation regarding vegetable smuggling.
“We have started to uncover vegetable smuggling before the end of session. We expect people involved in smuggling to try to creep their way into the new administration. I hope that the Executive Secretary would shield the President from these groups by investigating deeper as to who really are involved in smuggling,” he said.
Cabatbat also offered the farmers’ help in solving the looming food crisis.
“We are always here if the President needs our help. The best persons to consult regarding the state of agriculture are no other than the farmers themselves. The farmers want to be part of the solution to the decades-old problems that beset the agriculture sector. We are just waiting for us to be called by the President,” he said. Anchit Masangcay
