While he issued a blanket denial, Diokno admitted the affinity and claimed issues such as projects are never discussed in family gatherings. “And so now you’re saying there was a total of P75 billion in insertions, and not P52 billion as reporter earlier. Salvador Panelo, chief legal counsel and presidential spokesperson, maintained that the executive branch respects the independence of Congress and its power of the purse. Andaya had revealed CT Leoncio Construction and Trading had bagged government projects even before Congress approved the P3.75-trillion budget. “The problem is that, according to the executive branch, the ‘Build, Build, Build’ will be stalled if the President signs it (budget) in February,” Zubiri said.

Source: Philippine Star December 11, 2018 16:06 UTC