The House of Representatives will no longer compel the presence of embattled Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno in its investigation on budget irregularities, as it intends to file criminal complaints against him and others for allegedly favoring Aremar Construction, which is owned by his in-laws’ family.
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando “Nonoy” Andaya Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, disclosed that the House Committee on Rules, which he previously chaired, will turn over the investigation to the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Quezon Rep. Danilo “Danny” Suarez.
He said the Suarez panel will lodge the complaints against Diokno and others before a prosecutor’s office or Office of the Ombudsman.
“Unang-una po si Secretary Diokno for conflict of interest ho ‘yan. Kaso po ‘yan. ‘Pag nakinabang ang anak ng isang opisyal, bawal po ‘yon,” Andaya said in a radio interview.
“Inaayos na po ang mga dokumento. Kinukuha na sa akin…tina-transfer ko na ‘yong mga dokumento
kay Rep. Suarez. We’ll see,” he said.
Andaya claimed that Aremar Construction cornered billions of pesos worth of projects in Casiguran, Sorsogon using dummy corporations. (Charissa L. Atienza)
