(Eagle News) – Malacanang will investigate allegations of corruption in the P75 billion added in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had admitted to have been responsible for.
“Since there is an allegation of corruption, it follows that we have to investigate,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
The Palace spokesperson noted that Diokno had already denied that there was any corruption involved in this.
But he said that because there was an allegation of corruption made, then Malacanang will have to investigate.
Diokno had earlier admitted that it was the DBM which augmented the DPWH budget.
During the question hour at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, December 11, he even corrected earlier cited figures of P51 billion added to the DPWH budget, saying the correct amount was P75 billion.
Before this, House Majority Leader Congressman Rolando Andaya Jr. was pointing out that not even DPWH Secretary Mark Villar knew of the additional budget P51 billion budget given to the DPWH.
“You gave him (Villar) a ceiling of P488 billion, and lo and behold, there is an additional P51 billion which no one now claims. So if public works didn’t ask for it and DBM submitted that ‘presidential’ budget to us, then it may only have come from you,” Andaya said addressing Diokno.
“We decided to augment another P75 billion [but] you cannot call that insertion because it’s part of the process,” Diokno told Rolando during the interpellation.
-Diokno still enjoys Duterte’s trust, says Panelo-
Panelo, however, clarified that Diokno still has trust and confidence of the President.
“He (Diokno) is a man of integrity. So, when he says he’s not involved, I believe him. Unless you show me, as a lawyer, competent evidence to the contrary; the presumption he is a man of competence and integrity,” Panelo said.
He also noted that Congress is also investigating this allegation.
“I think the House is investigating it. We will go to the bottom of this,” he said.
“Secretary Diokno has denied any involvement in the allegation made by Congressman Andaya,” he added.
Panelo also said that the Palace will also probe allegations that the DBM had favored a contractor for government projects which Andaya had earlier identified as C.T. Leoncio Construction and Trading.
He noted that Diokno had already denied links to this firm.
“Secretary Diokno has already denied any involvement or any link. But let me repeat what we have said repeatedly: This President is no respecter of friendship, of alliances, of party affiliations, of friendship. His principle is you follow the law; you violate it — you will account for it. You engage in corruption, then you will be fired,” Panelo said.
