Benjamin Diokno gets 2 allies in House of Representatives

MANILA, Philippines — Embattled Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who is facing accusations of favoritism and budget insertions from the House of Representatives, has found at least two allies among congressmen.

On Jan. 3 in Naga City, the House rules committee, chaired by Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., will start looking into billions in infrastructure projects Diokno allegedly allocated for Sorsogon, home province of his in-laws.

The budget chief has denied favoring his in-laws. He is staying away from the House inquiry.

Despite the accusations, Reps. Gary Alejano of party-list group Magdalo and Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur are vouching for the budget secretary’s integrity.

“I agree that Secretary Diokno is a man of integrity, until proven otherwise. However, this rather uncooperative stance on the House investigation might be construed as covering up a serious anomaly. If he has nothing to hide, he should confront the allegations and explain himself,” Alejano said.

He said the supposed order of President Duterte for his budget chief to snub the House probe runs counter to the Chief Executive’s supposed policy on transparency and accountability.

“Without assuming who the real culprits behind these multibillion allocations and insertions are, an investigation is deemed proper since we are talking about the people’s money. Secretary Diokno, being the budget chief, is most fitting to answer these allegations,” he said.

“If the President is true to his anti-corruption campaign, then he should let Secretary Diokno appear before the House inquiry, clear his name and help us smoke out the crook behind all of this. The President and his budget secretary should welcome the investigation,” Alejano added.

For his part, Villafuerte said the budget chief has earned the label “Mr. No for firmly turning down proposals tinged with even just a hint of illegality.”

“His integrity is beyond doubt and his track record in government is exceptional. Secretary Diokno has introduced several reforms to ensure the efficient and transparent use of government resources in his stints at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),” he said.

Among such reforms is the new cash-based budgeting policy, “which we believe will help instill fiscal discipline among government agencies and increase their absorptive capacity,” he said.

“This is an effective response to the perennial complaint of lawmakers regarding the low absorptive capacity of government agencies whenever we conduct hearings on the national budget,” Villafuerte added.

He stressed that with Diokno at the helm, the DBM would “continue to prudently and efficiently use government funds to ensure that every peso in the state coffers is spent on programs and projects that will truly benefit the Filipino people.”

The Andayas and Villafuertes are political enemies in Camarines Sur. Andaya is running for governor against incumbent Luis Miguel Villafuerte, Rep. Villafuerte’s son. They are also fighting each other in at least two districts.

Andaya has said the House won’t use its subpoena power if Diokno chooses not to attend its inquiry. It has subpoenaed contractor Consolacion Leoncio, who has allegedly cornered billions of contracts in Sorsogon, and several district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways.