Diokno hopes next DBM secretary ‘not a politician’

Outgoing Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. Photo by TOTO LOZANO / Presidential Photographers Division

MANILA, Philippines – Outgoing Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Wednesday said he was hoping the next chief of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would not be a politician.

“It’s not up to me. There are names being floated but I hope the next DBM secretary is not a politician,” Diokno said in a press conference.

Diokno was recently appointed as the new governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) following the death of Nestor Espenilla Jr.

He is set to be sworn in on Wednesday night and will assume office on Thursday.

READ: Diokno is the new central bank governor

He served as budget secretary under the Duterte administration for nearly three years.

The outgoing secretary said he recommended Undersecretary Janet Abuel as acting secretary to oversee the transition to the next budget chief to be appointed by the President. /cbb