Business groups on ‘wait-and-see’ regarding DBM chief

MANILA, Philippines — Some business organizations are reportedly keeping their hands off the issue now facing embattled Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, saying they would rather wait for the results of the investigations. 

A ranking official from the Management Association of the Philippines who asked not to be named said MAP wants to study first the alleged insertions in the 2019 national budget.

“We would rather be silent first while we study and understand in more detail the alleged budget insertions and pork barrel allocations,” the official said. 

Industry sources added that while government officials are gathering support for Diokno, the usually vocal business organizations prefer to wait for the results of the investigations before issuing an official position on the matter. 

Federation of Philippine Industries president Jesus Arranza said it is important for authorities to get to the bottom of the issue first before the business community can issue its position.

“We have to hear all sides first,” Arranza said. 

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), for its part, thanked President Duterte for his continued trust and confidence in Diokno as his economic manager and budget secretary. 

Cabinet secretaries have defended Diokno and slammed lawmakers for asking Duterte to sack the DBM chief for allegedly putting insertions in the national budget next year.

In separate statements last week, the secretaries said the call of members of the House of Representatives for Diokno to be sacked is a violation of the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vivencio Dizon issued separate statements of support for Diokno.

“To use the congressional process to bombard Secretary Diokno with pre-considered questions and answers in aid not of legislation but of persecution and excoriating him with baseless allegations is a mockery of standard democratic procedures,” the Cabinet secretaries said.

The Cabinet officials are reportedly gathering support for Diokno from the business sector amid the allegations that he is facing.