The House of Representatives has directed Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to appear at its plenary session on Tuesday to shed light on P975 billion in unspent public funds during the first two years of the Duterte administration. House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Sunday said Diokno also had been summoned to a “Question Hour” to explain the supposed “insertions” of some P52 billion for certain legislative districts, which lawmakers had blamed for the delay in the approval of the proposed P3.8-trillion national budget for 2019. ADVERTISEMENTSen. Panfilo Lacson surmised that these funds were later allocated to certain House members, among them Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who received P2.4 billion worth of projects, and Andaya, P1.9 billion, for their respective districts. It’s better if we are given an opportunity to explain,” Andaya said. He said the 292-member chamber invited Diokno after adopting House Resolution No.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 09, 2018 23:26 UTC