MANILA, Philippines — The accusations of some lawmakers that he is the one behind the alleged “insertion” in the proposed 2019 budget is a mere diversion from the “pork barrel” issue, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday. Diokno made the remark as he again stressed that what he did was just an “adjustment” during the budgetary process. ADVERTISEMENT“They’re trying to divert the attention from the ‘pork barrel’ that Senator Ping (Lacson) noticed in the submission of the House to the Senate,” Diokno told CNN Philippines’ The Source. Nung tiningnan ko yung Education budget it’s still lacking so I added more money for school buildings,” he said. Lawmakers have blamed Diokno for allegedly failing to explain the allocation for the DPWH.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 18, 2018 02:26 UTC