Does BSP chiefneed CA approval?
BY BERNADETIE D. NrcoLAs
, @BNicolasBM
I- NCOMING Bangko Sentral ng
I Pllipitt"" (BSP) Governor Ben-
I jamin E. Diokno saidhe doesn't
need to go through confirmation
proceedings at the bicameral Com-
mission on Appointments (CA).
CA, which confirms the ap-
pointments madebythe President,
is composed of members ofthe two
chambers ofCongress. Diokno has
been at loggerheads with ranking
House leaders over the 2019 bud-
get, House Appropriations Com-
mittee Chairman Rolando G. An-
dayaJr. accused Diokno of making
o\
N he said.
\d
z Cabinet meetinq.
*6
H DUTERTE named Budget Undersecrelary lanet B. Abuel as 0ff1(er in
anomalous insertions in the 2019 "Well, that's their call. We harre
national budget. a good man there, we have an ex-
"No," Diokno said in a text perienced man, we have an expert
message to the BUSINEssMIRRoR man, we have a man of integrity,"
when asked if he will still have to Presidential Spokesman and Chief
go.through CAs confirmation. Presidential Legal Counsel Salva-
The BSP charter states: "The dor S. Panelo said in a briefing on
Governor of the Bangko Sentral Tuesday.
shall be head of a department and Moreover, Panelo also said he
his appointment shallbe subject to doesn t think that the budget is-
confirmation by the Commission sues will impede the approval of
on Appointments." his appointment.
For itspart, Malacaffang didnot The House of Representatives
deny that Diokno will undergo CA earlier said it will continue its in-
confirmation but expressed con- vestigation into alleged insertions
fidence that because of Diokno's in the 2019 budget even after the
competence, integrity and exper- budget is passed.
tise, he will get the CA nod. SE! "BSP cnr8F," A2
BSP Chief, . . coNrrNUEDFRoMAl2
The proposed 2019 budget bill has yet to be transmitted to
l\4ala(anang.
50uqht for clarification 0n whether the BSP Governor needs to g0
thr0uqh CA(0nfi rmati0n, Justi(e 5ecretary i\4enardo I. Guevarra5aidthe
5upreme (ourt hasyett0 resolve this issue.
"'The new Gnlral Bankact las amended] has a provision requiring
(0nfirmati0n 0f the 85P 6overn0r'sappointment by the C0mmissi0n 0n
App0intmen$. Butthat is 0f d0ubtful valid ity betause the Constituti0n
has identified spe(ifi c p0siti0ns requiring CA c0nfirmation, and the BSP
Governor's position is not one 0fthem. Howevel, ttat i5su€ is for the
supreme Court t0 resolve/' Guevarra told the Bue tssMtRRoR.
Meanwhile, DiokAe also.sh*uqqed off doubr on his (apability t0
lead 85P
"W hat matters is that the a ppointing a uth0rity- President R0d rig0
Roa Dut€rte-has full trust and confidence in my abilily to lead BSPi'
Di0kno's appointment (ame as a surprise as he was not included in
the list 0f names initially being fl0ated as potential (andidates forthe
leadBSP p0st.Iheann0uncementwasmade byDutelteduring lllondayl
He will 0((upy the unexplred term 0fthe late BSP Governor Neslor
A. Espenilla Jr. whi(h will end 0n July 2023.
Espenilla died 0n February 23 after battling tongue (ancerfor more
than a year. Panelo said the President had a list 0f names t0 (h00se
from. Ho ever, he did not enumeratethose in(luded in th€ list.
Abuel is DBM 0lC
(harge 0fthe Department 0fBudget and illanagement.
Abuel is currently serving as budgel undersecretary for the local
Government and Regional Operations Group.
Diokno had served as budget dief under President Joseph [strada
from July 1998 until Estrada's 0uster in 2001.
Priorto this, he also served as budget u ndersecletary from 1986 t0
1 991 d uring President Corazon Aq uino's term.
Diokno has instituted several maj0r ref0rms, su(h as the 1986Tax
Reform Program,which simplifi ed inc0metaxand intr0du(edthevalue-
added tax and the 1991 Lo(a I Govern ment Code 0fthe Philippines.
He a h0 iniliated severa I ref0rms that w0u ld en hanGtranspa rgl(y and
improve the e{ficiency 0f the delivery 0f governmentservicet in(luding
the"WbatYoir See lsWhatYou Get"policy that is a simplifled system of loPAc?r -Al&"
fund release for the GeneralAppropriations Act.