(Eagle News)–Congressmen have backed out of inserting “pork barrel” amounting to P1.5 billion for each deputy speaker and P700 million for each congressman after the Palace said President Rodrigo Duterte would scrutinize the budget bill.
This is according to Senator Panfilo Lacson, in an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
According to Lacson, he received the information from a “source.”
Lacson said he was unsure, however, about the P100 million Rep. Joey Salceda earlier said each lawmaker in the House would receive in 2020 for their pet projects.
In any case, Lacson noted that the Senate would continue its scrutiny of the P4.1-trillion national budget passed by the House on third and final reading.
Lacson in particular questioned what he said was the House’s creation of a small committee even after the passage.
“So what I cannot understand is, sa legislative process kasi, pagkapassed on second reading palang, ibig sabihin pasok na lahat ng amendments, both committee and individual amendments. This time around, approved on third reading, wala na yan. Bicam na dapat yan,” Lacson said.
“Kung as is, exact replica, ng kanilang (General Appropriations Bill) that will be transmitted to the Senate ng (National Expenditure Program) ang President’s budget, anong dineliberate nila sa floor?” Lacson asked.
According to Lacson, this was unless it was the House’s plan to send a replica of the NEP that was also the House version “then later on introduce nila ang amendment.”
“But when? Sa bicam? E lalong medyo sneaky yata yan diba?” Lacson asked.
Apology
Capiz Rep. Fred Castro wants Lacson to apologize for what he said were the senator’s wrong allegations against the House.
Castro even called Lacson “macho gwapito pero isip bata” in his privilege speech on Wednesday.
But Lacson stood by his allegations.
“He is the one who should apologize to the Filipino people for abusing their hard-earned tax money in all the years that he is in Congress,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson, “his whining and howling will not deter my vigilance in performing my mandate of scrutinizing the budget measure.”
Last year, the government had to operate on a reenacted budget for the first few months after a budget impasse between the House and the Senate, which had accused the Lower Chamber of incorporating “insertions” in its proposed national budget. Meanne Corvera
