Salceda to replace Diokno as finance chief? Marcos says it’s fake news

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday dismissed as "fake news" reports that Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno would be replaced.

"Fake news," Marcos told reporters when asked about the matter.

"I don’t know where it comes from. Why will I do that? We have assembled a great team," he added.

 "[W]e’re trying to go down a certain direction...it’s a very, very poor time to, as they say, change horses in midstream."

Diokno has said he maintains good relations with the President, adding he is “old enough in this game to even bother" about such rumors. 

Albay Representative Joey Salceda, an economist, earlier denied that he would succeed Diokno as finance chief.

Diokno said he has since spoken with Salceda, whom he described as a friend. — VBL, GMA Integrated News