2 representatives slam budget department head for ‘crybaby’ remarks

ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro slammed Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno for his “crybaby” remarks against those opposing TRAIN. Both solons said that the people have every right to protest against the anti-poor TRAIN amid the blatant reports of corruption of millions of government funds, the lack of quality social services the people deserve and many other basic rights of the people that the government fail to provide.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the people “should be less of a crybaby” amid nonstop hikes in the prices of petroleum and other commodities yesterday.

“Secretary Diokno is once again saying outright insensitive and shameless remarks against the people protesting against the anti-people policies of the Duterte administration. These ‘crybabies’ that the Secretary is referring to are the same people that he is supposed to be serving as a government official,” Tinio said. “The people are clamoring for salary and wage increases amid the rising cost of prices in basic goods. The people have every right to protest against the anti-poor TRAIN with the lack of quality social services the people deserve and many other basic rights of the people that the government fail to provide.

“We ask the Duterte administration, who are they really serving? They have been prioritizing the implementation of anti-poor policies which further burden and eventually kill the Filipino people with their empty stomachs and empty pockets,” Castro said. “Instead of responding to their obligation for providing the basic rights of the people for quality basic social services, the Duterte administration has been insulting its people and putting blame on the victims.”

“The Duterte administration has done nothing but to increase prices of basic needs for school supplies, food, transportation and other basic needs and services while also keeping mum on the demands of the people for salary increase, job security and depriving the people from their benefits,” Tinio added. “The budget for basic social services like education and health remain insufficient and is not enough to provide quality education and healthcare to the people. It is only just and right to protest against government policies that further oppress the Filipino people.”

“The Duterte administration has been starving its people with the rising cost of basic needs while wages remain stagnant. They have also been killing the poor with their so-called war on drugs which only targets small-time pushers and victim users,” Castro said. (PR)