Diokno unfazed; questions integrity of his accusers
(Eagle News) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday, Dec. 12, adopted a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his appointment of Ben Diokno as Budget secretary.
House Resolution 2365, authored by Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, was adopted after Diokno was grilled by House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya for what the lawmaker said were “insertions” amounting to billions in infrastructure funds in the proposed 2019 national budget without President Rodrigo Duterte’s knowledge.
Diokno, however, said Duterte knew of the P75 billion included in the proposed budget for infrastructure projects.
Suarez also linked Diokno to the contractor he said had cornered 30 government projects even if it was only a single proprietorship and not a registered corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The adoption also came after Senator Panfilo Lacson said Camarines Sur–Andaya’s province—had cornered “congressional insertions” in the House of Representatives’ proposed national budget for 2019, with P1.9 billion, while another district in Pampanga–Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s district–had P2.4 billion.
Andaya has said it was actually the former leaders of the House who cornered funds for infrastructure in the House’s proposed national budget.
The resolution noted that Diokno was unable to explain how CT Leoncio Construction and Trading managed to get projects in Sorsogon, where his daughter’s in-laws, according to Andaya, were running in the 2019 elections.
It also noted that the “issue on the augmentation in the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways without the knowledge and consent of Secretary Mark Villar remains unsolved.”
“Whereas such insertion, if proven, is illegal and ultra vires for it bypassed the authority of the President, through its line agencies, to submit its proposed budget for 2019,” the resolution said.
“I serve at the pleasure of the President,” Diokno said in a statement.
He noted that he “was chosen by three Presidents as Budget deputy minister, then as Secretary.”
“That speaks volumes of their trust and confidence in my integrity, honesty and competence. I doubt if you can say the same of those who want me to resign,” Diokno said.
