Diokno skips House budget hearing

February 8, 2019

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on FrIday skipped the House Committee on Appropriation's probe on the alleged insertion in the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 and asked that the hearing be rescheduled.

  In a letter addressed to House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Diokno invoked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) officials and staff  for "proper notice and a fair and just hearing." 

  The budget secretary explained that the subpoena for him to clarify supposed anomalies on the 2019 budget arrived Thursday morning. 

  "Subpoena shall be served to a witness at least three days before a scheduled hearing in order to give the witness every opportunity to prepare for the hearing and to employ counsel, should the witness desire," Diokno said, citing the Section 8 Article 3 of the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation of the House of Representatives.

He also requested, in his letter to Arroyo, to be furnished with a list of questions to be raised during the inquiry.

Diokno last appeared at the House upon being called by Appropriations Committee Chair and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya for Question Hour on December 11, 2018,

“Whatever is the real purpose of the House in calling me, I will appear in Congress. However, I take my duty to the people very seriously. It is only right that we prepare in order to give the Filipino people a complete and clear picture of the matter, and avoid giving information that only suits a specific agenda. We are definitely cooperating but it is imperative that we be given the proper amount of time to prepare.” Diokno said.

DBM said it will submit to the committee copies of documents that are being subpoenaed for its perusal and reference. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS