Diokno: Accusations against me a diversionary tactic

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Tuesday said the accusation being hurled against him by some lawmakers may be a way to pressure him to release the P45 billion road user's tax that is controlled by the Road Board.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Diokno said he also expects more issues to be thrown at him to divert public attention from the alleged insertions in the proposed 2019 national budget.

"Marami pang papalabasin nila 'yan para lang ma-divert [ang attention]," the embattled Cabinet official said.

"Palagay ko marami pa 'yan (allegations) to divert the attention atsaka on my part naman para i-release ko talaga yung road user's [tax]." 

Diokno said he is in favor of abolishing the Road Board, to which he is a member, as road user's tax has been a "source of corruption."

"Nung nagkausap kami ng Congress at ng Presidente mismo... nagdesisyon kami na buwagin na 'yan (Road Board). Alam mo kung bakit? Seven members, lahat unelected, ako member ako nun. Why are we acting like a mini-Congress?" he said.

Diokno, who will be facing a congressional inquiry in January, is also accused influencing the approval of P2.8-billion worth of infrastructure projects in Casiguran town and Sorsogon in 2018. Casiguran Mayor Edwin Hamor and Sorsogon Vice Governor Ester Hamor were reportedly his in-laws, but Diokno denies this.

"Wala akong kamag-anak sa Sorsogon. My daughter is married to a Sicat. Yung mayor nga na iyon iba ang apelyido. My daughter is not related to that mayor," he said.

Diokno was referring to Romeo Sicat Jr., son of Ester Hamor and husband of his daughter Charlotte Diokno-Sicat. Ester is married to Mayor Hamor. —KBK, GMA News