Kinilala ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang mga nagawa ni dating Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno sa Department of Finance (DOF), kasunod ng panunumpa ng bagong kalihim ng DOF ngayong hapon (January 12).
Sa press briefing sa Malacañang, sinabi ng Pangulo na noong nakaraang taon pa dapat magri-retiro si Diokno, ngunit nakiusap ang administrasyon na manatili muna ito sa DOF, lalo’t kailangan na mailinya sa tamang landas ang ekonomiya ng bansa.
Bagay na napagtagumpayan aniya ni Secretary Diokno.
“He was due to retire the middle of last year, but we, I think we all ganged up on him and asked him, please continue as Department of Finance simply because we had to get the economy, we had to get our policies onto the right track, and he has done a splendid job as Secretary,” —Pangulong Marcos.
Ayon sa Pangulo, dahil miyembro na ng Monetary Board si Diokno, mananatili ang paghingi ng pamahalaan ng payo o expertise nito lalo’t isa rin si Diokno sa mga kinikilalang haligi ng economic management sa bansa.
“Being one of our country’s pillars of economic management, we shall continue to rely on your expertise and exuberance as a member now of the Monetary Board,” —Pangulong Marcos.
Ayon pa kay Pangulong Marcos, inalok rin niya si Diokno na maging bahagi ng mga mamamahala ng Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).
Gayunpaman, tumanggi na ang dating kalihim, dahil hindi aniya ito ang kaniyang expertise.
“He begged off, saying that this is the, the investment fund, the sovereign fund, is not what he feels is a specialty of his, so he will return to his purely financial duties now in the Monetary Board.” —Pangulong Marcos. | ulat ni Racquel Bayan
