(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo Lacson does not believe Budget Secretary Ben Diokno should resign despite allegations he has links to a supposedly favored contractor.
In the first place, Lacson, in an interview aired over CNN Philippines on Thursday, Dec. 20, said he “cannot imagine” Diokno dealing with contractors directly.
“I’m not defending Sec. Diokno. Pero sabi niya nga nakipag-deal siya sa mga agencies pag nag-appropriate at saka nag-release ng budget,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson, it was the agencies that deal with the contractors, and at times, the congressmen themselves.
He said this was what was wrong.
“Alam natin pag nag-allocate ang congressman, bitbit ang contractor eh. Walang magawa ang agency,” Lacson said.
Earlier, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya accused Diokno of having ties with CT Leoncio Construction, which he said had bagged 30 government projects worth billions of pesos.
Andaya also accused Diokno of being behind the “executive pork” inserted in the proposed national budget for 2019.
Andaya had gone on the offensive after Lacson said a province–the House majority leader’s— and a district—Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s– had cornered “congressional insertions” in the House-proposed national budget for next year.
The House of Representatives went on to adopt a resolution authored by House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, urging President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his appointment of Diokno as Budget secretary, based on Andaya’s accusations.
The Palace, however, stood by Diokno, noting his reputation for integrity.
Diokno has denied all allegations against him, saying these were mere “tactics” to divert the public’s attention from the budgetary issues involving some lawmakers.
He also noted some lawmakers were irked at him for his refusal to release the motor vehicle user’s charges pending the resolution of the Road Board issue, supposedly at the behest of President Duterte.
Diokno had said some lawmakers were planning to use the MVUC to cover their campaign expenses for the 2019 elections.
