Palace tells Andaya: Stop waging ‘media propaganda war’ vs Diokno

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday urged Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. to stop  waging “media propaganda war” against Budget Secretary Ben Diokno.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Andaya formally yielded his House Majority leadership to Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fred Castro.

“Now that Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. formally yielded his post, we call on him to cease from waging a media propaganda war to besmirch the image and reputation of a member of the Cabinet before the court of public opinion,” Panelo said.

Panelo, who is also President Duterte’s chief legal counsel, further asked Andaya to “look for an appropriate venue” by just filing a case against Diokno in court.

The Palace official also claimed that the Executive Department has nothing to do with the “political intramurals” happening at the House of Representatives.

“We respect its independence, including its internal rules and affairs,” he said.

On Monday afternoon’s plenary session, Andaya immediately move to nominate Castro as new House Majority Leader.

The motion was approved without objection.

READ: Capiz Rep. Fred Castro is new majority leader

With Castro at the helm as House Majority Leader, Panelo expressed confidence that his leadership will pave the way for better Executive-Congress ties.

Andaya, who is running for governor of Camarines Sur, will now head the committee on appropriations, the powerful panel that is in charge of the annual national budget.

Jurisdiction over the investigation of the alleged anomalies in the 2019 budget prepared by Diokno will be transferred from the rules panel to Andaya’s committee on appropriations. /ee