While there may no longer be enough time for lawmakers to subject embattled outgoing Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to a congressional investigation into alleged irregularities in the budget preparation, he still has to face the Commission on Appointments for the confirmation of his new post, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr. said on Thursday.
“I do not think now is the time [to continue the investigation]. There will come a time that he will go back to Congress,” Andaya, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said, when asked if they will still push through with the probe on Diokno’s alleged P75-billion insertions and questionable budget practices that the latter vehemently denied.
Andaya, the former chairman of the House committee on rules that initiated the probe, said he would want to prepare a committee report on the inquiry “if time permits,” adding that the incoming 18th Congress can still do the inquiry.
“Hopefully [we can come up with the committee report]. But from my experience, I think I have accepted the fact na some other time, some other person. Maybe in the next Congress. These things have a way of coming back, anyway,” said Andaya.
Contrary to the Palace position, Andaya said that Diokno will still have to undergo the CA confirmation.
“The last time I checked, [all presidential appointees have to go through a confirmation from the Commission on Appointments, even members of the Monetary Board. That is how it is,” Andaya said.
Diokno is set to replace the late Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr.
House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez said Diokno will have to answer the budget controversies during the CA hearing on his confirmation.
“Questions will be asked. That’s also good for him. It will enlighten and maybe answer some issues that haven’t been answered during the question hour,” said Suarez, who chairs the House committee on public accounts,” Suarez said.
