Marcos calls rumored DOF shake-up 'fake news'
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday denied rumors that he is looking to replace Benjamin Diokno as secretary of finance.
Speaking to reporters, Marcos called the rumors “fake news”.
“Why will I do that? We have assembled a great team,” he said.
Diokno earlier in the day said he still enjoys a “very good” relationship with Marcos, adding he is “old enough in this game to even bother about” the rumors.
The finance chief was responding to a report by Bilyonaryo.com, which cited an anonymous source who claimed that Marcos is looking to replace Diokno because of his “incompetence” in controlling painfully high inflation that could potentially threaten the administration’s popularity.
The rumor came days after Marcos appointed his godson, Romeo Lumagui Jr., as head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, replacing Lilia Guillermo who was handpicked by Diokno himself. Asked by reporters if Guillermo resigned from her post or got fired, Diokno declined to comment.
Bilyonaryo’s source claimed that Marcos has a list of names that could replace Diokno, which includes Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and former Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who also served as interior and local government secretary during the Aquino administration.
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