Andaya says Diokno behind P75-B insertion in DPWH budget

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno orchestrated the “insertion” of some P75 billion in the proposed P3.8-trillion national budget for 2019 without President Rodrigo Duterte’s consent, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said on Tuesday.

During Question Hour in the House of Representatives, Andaya took to task Diokno for allegedly placing huge amounts for infrastructure projects in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) without its knowledge.

He said Public Works Secretary Mark Villar had told him that he was not aware that projects worth P51 billion were added to the original budget requested by his office.

Public works projects

Grilled by Andaya, the budget secretary said the additional budget for public works projects was actually P75 billion.

“It’s clear now that the insertion is not P51 billion, but P75 billion. Thanks so much for admitting that,” the House leader said.

To which Diokno replied: “You cannot call that insertion because it’s part of the budget preparation process. That’s not insertion.”

But Andaya disclosed that he personally discussed the budget insertion with the President who, he claimed, had no idea about the matter.

“The President told me that he had nothing to do with it and that I should ask you,” he told Diokno.

When Diokno insisted that the President was informed about the additional budget, he said: “So he’s lying to me? He’s a liar?”