Duterte orders Diokno to skip ‘rude’ House probe on ‘pork’ insertions — PalacePRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte ordered Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to skip the House of Representatives’ inquiry on the alleged “pork insertions” in the 2019 national budget to prevent lawmakers from treating him again in a “rude” manner, Malacañang said on Tuesday. So presumably it’s coming from the President,” Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo said during a press conference. The House plans to summon Diokno in its hearing in Naga City on January 3 on the “favored” contractors and the P75 billon alleged “insertions” he supposedly made in the 2019 budget. Meanwhile, Panelo reiterated that Duterte “is keeping” Diokno, insisting that the allegations against the budget secretary were “totally baseless.”“Certainly, the President is keeping him. That’s the job of Congress to scrutinize, to review and if there’s any irregularity, they can correct it.

Source: Manila Times December 18, 2018 07:41 UTC