Agricultural Secretary Manny Piñol confirmed that Duterte was referring to undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.



Although not necessarily money-related, this decision to dismiss was due to her allegedly seeking to overturn the denial of rice importation. Duterte said he didn't want to grant the appeal to "protect" Filipino farmers and their products.



National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Aquino, however, has been pushing for more rice imports.