Benjamin Diokno is new BSP chief: Medialdea

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed that Diokno will succeed the late Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. who succumbed to cancer on Feb. 23. (File Photo: Department of Budget and Management/Facebook)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has named Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno as the new Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), a Malacañang official said Monday night.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed that Diokno will succeed the late Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. who succumbed to cancer on Feb. 23.

Prior to Dionkno’s appointment, Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Cyd Tuaño-Amador was designated as BSP officer-in-charge.

Medialdea did not provide details as to whether Diokno’s appointment papers have already been signed.

Previously, Diokno was embroiled in controversy after being accused by House appropriations committee chair Rolando Andaya Jr. of allegedly orchestrating “insertions” in the PHP3.757-trillion proposed national budget for 2019.