(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday, Jan. 29, urged members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to make public their proposed amendments to the P3.7-trillion national budget for this year.
In doing so, Lacson noted that the bicameral committee, where the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the proposed national budget will be reconciled, was a “venue for sneaky horse trading among legislators.”
He said for his part, “in the spirit of transparency,” he has instructed his staff to “make public all my amendments in the 2019 national budget.”
It was Lacson who revealed a district in Camarines Sur–Rep. Rolando Andaya’s—and one in Pampanga–Speaker Gloria Arroyo’s—had “cornered congressional insertions” in the House-proposed national budget.
Andaya went on the offensive against Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno following Lacson’s statements.
The congressman accused Diokno of “inserting” P75 billion in funds for infrastructure projects in the proposed Department of Public Works and Highways budget without the knowledge of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, President Rodrigo Duterte and other congressmen.
He also accused Diokno of having ties with a contractor that allegedly cornered 30 government projects in the billions of pesos.
Diokno has said the P75 billion could not be considered an “insertion,” as it was a mere “adjustment.
He also denied he had links to the allegedly favored contractor.