‘Diokno tried to bribe House with P40B to shut up about insertions’ — Andaya
Credit to Author: mfrialde| Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2019 03:43:23 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno tried to “buy” and “bribe” the House of Representatives in the amount of P40 billion to “shut up” about the P75 billion insertions in the proposed 2019 national budget, House appropriations committee chair Rolando Andaya Jr. bared Friday.
After denouncing the absence of Diokno despite the subpoena issued against him, the Camarines Sur 1st District solon then retold how he brought up to Diokno red flags in the 2019 expenditure plan, including the controversial P75 billion infrastructure programs.
Andaya said he had met Diokno several times and had always raised the issue which the Budget Secretary promised would be taken care of.
Andaya further recounted that Department of Budget and Management Usec. Mina Pangandaman invited him over lunch together with Diokno and a common friend who was not identified by the congressman.
“Even Secretary Diokno tries to buy our cooperation. He offered the House P40 billion for us to shut up about the P75 billion insertion,” the lawmaker said.
“Now I have the 2019 budget in my hand, and I do not see any P40 billion there,” he added.
Andaya also said Diokno told him the P40 billion would come from the 2018 savings.
“You can offer to buy us out, to bribe us for our silence and as to the amount, you’re only saying half the truth there a bigger amount involved but it might involve another institution so let Secretary Diokno talk first, react first to my statement and I will follow through with the other half of it,” Andaya said. /muf