(Eagle News) — House appropriations committee chair Rolando Andaya Jr. on Friday, Feb. 8, accused Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno of trying to”bribe” the House of Representatives into “shut(ting) up” about the P75-billion “insertion” in the proposed national budget.
According to Andaya, the “P40-billion bribe” was offered during a meeting with Diokno, Budget Undersecretary Mina Pangandaman and a friend he did not identify.
He said it was Pangandaman who invited him to the meeting, and that he has text messages to prove it.
Andaya said Diokno told them he would get the “bribe” from the “savings of 2018.”
“That is why I am asking about the savings of DBM. That piqued my curiosity because they tried to buy our silence with that amount,” Andaya said.
“Wild, baseless accusations”
In a statement, Diokno vehemently denied the allegations.
“It is again one of his wild and baseless accusations. If I were trying to silence the committee, why would I even bother to submit to them the 2017 and 2018 savings for their review?” Diokno asked.
Andaya, who has launched a panel inquiry into alleged anomalies in the proposed national budget— has been hurling accusations against Diokno since Senator Panfilo Lacson said a district in Camarines Sur–Andaya’s district—and another in Pampanga—Speaker Gloria Arroyo’s—had “cornered” insertions in the House-proposed national budget.
Diokno attended the Question Hour in December last year, but has not attended subsequent hearings since, citing a directive from the Palace that has stood by him, citing his untarnished reputation.
Diokno again skipped the panel hearing on Friday, Feb. 8, saying he was not given proper notice by the House panel.
According to Diokno, House rules state that a subpoena be given to a witness or a resource person at least three days before the hearing to allow him or her to prepare.
Diokno said the House panel subpoena was received by the DBM only on Thursday morning.