Diokno as BSP gov not a ‘reward’: Palace

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo holds a press briefing for the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on Monday, November 26, 2018, at the New Executive Building (NEB) in Malacañang. (Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday denied reports that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno was appointed as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor as a “reward” after being heavily criticized on issues hounding the proposed 2019 budget.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo bared that President Rodrigo R. Duterte had a list of names to succeed the late Nestor Espenilla Jr. before deciding on Diokno’s appointment.

“I don’t think it’s a reward. The way he told us last night, marami raw names na binigay sa kaniya, inisa-isa niya, si Diokno ang napusuan niya (there were a lot of names given to him, he went through them one by one, and preferred Diokno),” Panelo said in an interview over cable television ANC.

“A much-deserved appointment. The man is competent. He is (an) expert in his field so the President — in fact, last night when he announced it, he told the newly appointed Bangko Sentral governor, ‘There is only one thing that I will say: serve public interest,’” he added.

Although Diokno’s appointment as BSP governor was met with surprise by the banking industry, which expected an insider to succeed Espenilla, Panelo said Diokno’s qualifications are enough bases for his appointment.

“Integrity, competence, expertise. I already said the qualifications under which the President based his appointment. The banking industry lauded the appointment of Secretary Ben Diokno,” he said.

Panelo also reiterated that Diokno enjoys the President’s trust and confidence amid the allegations.

“I don’t think so. The allegations are not true. I don’t think anybody believed them,” Panelo said.

Panelo, meanwhile, said that Duterte has not yet decided who he will appoint to replace Diokno as secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

He, however, said that Budget Undersecretary Janet Abuel will be officer-in-charge of the DBM as the department awaits Diokno’s replacement.

“What I know is there is an acting now, Atty. Abuel, a lawyer-CPA,” Panelo said.