MANILA – Malacañang will dig deep into allegations that a single contractor bagged 30 government projects worth billions of pesos in various parts of the country.
They will investigate if there are irregularities in the awarding of billion-peso contracts to a single company, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told a press briefing on Wednesday.
“Yes, of course. We will go to the bottom of this,” Panelo said. “We have to investigate first. We do not even know if the allegations are true or not because there have been denials.”
Bulacan-based company CT Leoncio Construction and Trading was “favored” by the Palace for contracts, even in the farthest areas in the country, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya claimed.
Andaya further alleged that Department of Budget and Management secretary Benjamin Diokno was behind the P75-billion “insertion” in the proposed P3.8-trillion national budget for 2019 without President Rodrigo Duterte’s consent.
“We have to know exactly whether the charges or allegations of corruption are true or not or favoring certain particular persons or firms,” said Panelo.
Diokno continues to have the trust of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Palace official maintained.
“Mr. Diokno is known to be Mr. No, meaning he is a man of integrity,” said Panelo. “So when he says he is not involved, I believe him, unless you show me, a lawyer, a competent evidence to the contrary. The presumption is he is a man of competence and integrity.”
Panelo added: “The Palace believes in the competence and integrity of Secretary Diokno. Unless those who allege can show us competent proof to the contrary, the presumption of competence and integrity on the part of Secretary Diokno prevails.”/PN
