(Eagle News) — The Palace on Tuesday, Dec. 18, hit what it said were the tactics employed by some members of the House of Representatives to divert the public’s attention from the allegations against them.
Without naming names, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the attacks against Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno started after Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed Pampanga–Speaker Gloria Arroyo’s province–and a district in Camarines Sur—House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr.’s–had cornered “congressional insertions” in the House of Representatives’ proposed national budget for 2019.
Andaya accused Diokno of having links to the contractor who allegedly cornered 30 government projects worth billions, and of being behind the billions of pesos of “executive pork” in the proposed national budget.
The House of Representatives went on to adopt a resolution urging Duterte to reconsider his appointment of Diokno as budget secretary on this basis, but Duterte stood by his Cabinet member, noting his reputation for integrity.
“Whatever allegation they have on corruption, I think it’s about time they come up with evidence,” Panelo said, noting that
