Makabayan bloc joins calls to sack Diokno

Credit to Author: GLEE JALEA| Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2018 16:40:08 +0000

The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives joined other lawmakers in urging President Rodrigo Duterte to fire Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno over alleged anomalous insertions and allocations in the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget.

While the Palace intends to keep Diokno in his position with his “solid reputation,” Makabayan said the proposal to abolish the Road Board should not be used to divert the issues against Diokno.

“We, in Makabayan bloc, agree that it is a massive source of corruption and should be abolished but it should not be used to muddle or divert the issues against Secretary Diokno,” the group said in a statement.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. FILE PHOTO

The coalition is composed of ACT Teachers party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Bayan Muna party-list Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.

The group reiterated that it wants to make Diokno accountable for the insertion of “flood mitigation projects” amounting to P54 billion in the 2018 budget and P75 billion in the proposed 2019 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. and Minority Leader Danilo Suarez previously grilled Diokno who admitted that the P75 billion was an adjustment to the DPWH budget during his question hour two weeks ago.

“This so-called ‘flood control scam’ reveals how Malacañang has transformed large portions of the infrastructure budget of the Build, Build, Build program into pork barrel,” Makabayan said.

Diokno was also questioned over the huge allocations given to the Hamors, his in-laws, who got P325 million allocation for new projects in Casiguran.

Documents presented to the media last week revealed that the said amount was allocated for the construction and/or rehabilitation of Himaoyon Flood Control Upstream and Downstream (P75 million); Lungib Seawall and Embankment, Phase 2 (P80.113 million); Somal-ot Seawall and Embankment, Phase 3 (P100 million); Cagpagol River Control (P45 million); and Suji River Control (P25 million) — all under Casiguran, Sorsogon.

Mayor Edwin Hamor of Casiguran, Sorsogon and Sorsogon Vice Governor Ester Hamor are seeking reelection next year. Their daughter, who owns Aremar Construction, entered into joint ventures with the controversial C.T. Leoncio Construction Trading, which is being linked to an unnamed Cabinet official.

The Makabayan bloc also blamed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for facilitating budget cuts across several government agencies, “especially those concerned with social services like health, education, and housing, under the guise of a so-called cash-based budgeting system.”

Under the cash-based budgeting system, agencies are required to complete their contracts by the end of 2019.

Congress failed to pass the General Appropriations Act before it adjourned session for the holiday break. This means that the government will operate on a reenacted budget, relying on this year’s P3.767 trillion.

“It is high time that Secreatry Diokno answer for seemingly using the national budget as his personal purse and doling out gifts to those close to him,” the Makabayan bloc said.

The House Committee on Rules will conduct its investigation on all budget issues facilitated by the DBM on January 3.

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