Angara defends Diokno: ‘He’s a man of integrity’
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara defended embattled Budget Chief Benjamin Diokno on Friday, saying the latter is a known “man of integrity.”
“Secretary Ben Diokno is known to be a man of integrity. And I won’t be surprised if that’s how people regard him, especially those who know him well as a UP (University of the Philippines) professor and have worked with him as budget secretary,” Angara said in a statement.
The senator also said that should President Rodrigo Duterte decide to allow Diokno to stay because he “continues to enjoy his trust and confidence, so be it.”
READ: Senators shield Diokno from House attack
Other senators also backed Diokno from the allegations of House leaders that he orchestrated the “insertion” of some P75 billion infrastructure fund in the proposed 2019 national budget without the knowledge of the President, the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well those congressmen whose districts would benefit.
READ: Andaya says Diokno behind P75-B insertion in DPWH budget
Diokno said the P75 billion should not be called “insertions” are these were “adjustments” which were part of the budget process.
READ: Diokno: P75-B ‘adjustment’ in DPWH 2019 budget is for infra commitment | Infra ‘insertions’ in 2019 budget P75B, not P51.8B — Diokno
House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. also tagged Bulacan-based single proprietorship CT Leoncio Construction and Trading as involved in what he branded as “large-scale scam” since it bagged billions of pesos in government contracts in various provinces across the country based on the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by Malacañang to Congress.
READ: Andaya bares favored Palace contractor | House to summon ‘favored’ contractor behind multi-billion projects
According to Andaya, CT Leoncio Construction and Trading cornered P2.5 billion of the P10 billion released to Sorsogon this year. The mother of Diokno’s son-in-law is the vice governor of Sorsogon and his stepfather is the mayor of Casiguran town.
READ: Sorsogon solon denies getting P10B for infra projects in 2018
The NEP, which contains the breakdown of proposed allocations in government, was prepared by the executive branch.
Andaya bared his exposès after Sen. Panfilo Lacson alleged that Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo got P2.4 billion in “pork barrel” funds while he got P1.9 billion. Both denied Lacson’s allegations. /muf
