Poe on allegations vs Diokno: Accusations must be supported by evidence

MANILA, Philippines — Any accusation must be supported by evidence.

Senator Grace Poe said this on Friday when sought for comment on the House of Representative’s allegations against Budget Chief Benjamin Diokno and their move to remove the secretary from office.

“’Pag gumagawa ng isang akusasyon, dapat talaga may pruweba,” Poe told reporters in an interview.

House Majority Rolando Andaya Jr. and Minority Leader Danilo Suarez had accused Diokno of “inserting” some P75 billion in infrastructure funds in the proposed 2019 national budget without the President’s knowledge.

The lawmakers insisted that the President and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had no knowledge of P75 billion “inserted” infrastructure fund in next year’s appropriation.

READ: Andaya says Diokno behind P75-B insertion in DPWH budget

Diokno had denied this allegation.

READ: Diokno: P75-B ‘adjustment’ in DPWH 2019 budget is for infra commitment

Suarez on Thursday filed House Resolution No. 2365 urging President Rodrigo Duterte to “reconsider the appointment” of Diokno. The HOR adopted the resolution during the plenary session.

READ: House adopts resolution urging Duterte to fire Diokno

In the resolution, Suarez said that during the Question Hour last Tuesday, Diokno “was not able to explain how one sole proprietorship construction company was able to obtain numerous projects from the government in Sorsogon, amounting to billions of pesos.”

“There are doubts as to the secretary’s integrity and use of his position in accommodating and merging family with public interests,” the lawmaker added.

Poe said an investigation is needed for the alleged favored contractor, Consolacion Tubuhan Leoncio, which Andaya claimed had bagged 30 government projects in worth billions of pesos.

“Basta para sa akin kailangang busisiin talaga ang budget. Hindi puwedeng basta basta na lang. Hindi naman namin pera ‘yan, pera ninyo ‘yan kaya ‘yan ay dapat pangalagaan namin so kung kinakailangang imbestigahan, eh di i-imbestigahan talaga,” the senator said. /muf

READ: Andaya bares favored Palace contractor