Palace mocks Andaya’s view on wage hike; says ‘he lacks common sense’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang mocked on Tuesday the argument of House Majority Leader Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. that there is no reason for the Department of Budget and Management not to implement the scheduled salary hike for government employees this January.

Considering that the P3.8-trillion cash-based budget proposal this year was the same as last year, Andaya argued that a reenacted budget “covers the needed funding for the salary increases.”

READ: Gov’t workers to get 2019 pay hike on time – Andaya

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo quoted Diokno in a Palace briefing as saying that Andaya’s argument “is elementary.”

“It’s elementary. The salary authorized in the 2018 budget covers the third tranche of SSL only. The fourth tranche is provided for in the 2019 President’s budget,” Panelo said, quoting Diokno.

“So, since the 2019 budget is yet to be approved and we are appropriating in a reenacted budget 2018, necessarily, logically, there is no legal basis for giving the fourth tranche,” he added, still quoting the budget chief.

Panelo then said “it’s common sense.”

“Kumbaga common sense. Mukhang kulang din siya sa common sense kung babasahin ko itong sagot ni Secretary Diokno. ‘Yan ang logic ng dating ng sagot. Tama nga naman (It’s common sense. It looks like he lacks common sense if I  read the answer of Secretary Diokno. That’s the logic of his answer. I think it’s right),” he said.

Diokno remained unfazed on Tuesday on a potential lawsuit he may be slapped with, saying that Andaya is free to file a case for mandamus before the Supreme Court regarding the scheduled salary increase of government employees.

“This is a free country. He can file a case for mandamus in the SC if he wants. Nobody can stop him,” Diokno told INQUIRER.net in a text message. /ee

READ: Andaya to sue Diokno if DBM fails to hike gov’t workers’ salary by Jan. 15