Palace to look into alleged budget insertions
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has vowed to look into alleged insertions in the national budget for next year amounting to some P70 billion even as the Senate is moving to fast-track the approval of the outlay before Congress goes on Christmas break today.
“Yes, of course we will go to the bottom of this. Secretary (Benjamin) Diokno has denied any involvement in the allegation made by Congressman (Rolando) Andaya Jr.,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday.
He said any move by the Palace should not be seen as interference by the executive with the legislative branch.
“The position of the President ever since has been known to all of us – he will not interfere in any branch of the government nor even in the departments on the executive,” Panelo said.
“But he will make people in those departments accountable when there is corruption being done/undertaken by any of the departments – so that’s very clear,” he added.
“He has not interfered, and will not; he will only come in when there is corruption,” Panelo said. – With Delon Porcalla
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