Koko affirms party's trust in Diño

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Saturday affirmed the confidence of the ruling PDP Laban party in Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Martin Diño's efforts to improve the beleaguered SBMA's financial position.

The SBMA is the body tasked with the administration of the former US Naval Base. "Subic has not lived up to its potential due to corruption and mismanagement in the past. For this special economic zone to reassert its rightful place as a driver of economic growth, it needs the leadership of someone like Chairman Martin Diño to clean up its ranks and streamline its operations", the PDP Laban Party President said.

"Chairman Diño enjoys the support of his party, PDP Laban, in his aggressive campaign against smuggling and corruption", Pimentel said.

Pimentel recalled that China was able to rise to become the second-largest economy in the world on the back of its able administration of its special economic zone. The Senate President said, "As the government embarks on its Program for Change, we need every revenue generating agency to maximize its collection for the benefit of the Filipino people."

He added, "We need leaders who have no qualms with implementing radical solutions to address persistent problems, those who enjoy the full trust and confidence of the President."

Martin Diño rose to national prominence as the Chairman of the group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, and as the candidate who gave way to President Rodrigo Duterte as the standard-bearer of the PDP Laban Party.