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Alvarez, Fariñas deny role in ‘parked funds’ under proposed 2019 budget


Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas have both denied any role in the alleged "parking" of millions of pesos in allocations in their colleagues' districts during the budget process so that they could use the funds according to their interests later on.

The former House leaders made the denial after sources claimed that there were insertions to the budget amounting to at least P55 billion and will be distributed to the constituency of lawmakers supposedly favored by Alvarez.

"I do not know. Hindi na ako nakikialam dyan. Nandito lang ako sa district ko bisita sa mga barangay," Alvarez told GMA News in a text message.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez claimed that some funds under the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 had been "parked" to the allocations for the districts of some lawmakers.

Suarez claimed receiving information that a congressman's district received a P500-million allocation but would not benefit from the said funds.

The P500 million will actually be used by another lawmaker who "parked" the amount in the allocations for the congressman's district.

"Parking ang tawag. Pero parang sinabi na 'Kami ang magsasabi how it is going [to be used],'" Suarez said.

BUHAY party-list Representative Lito Atienza commented that the act was called "syndication."

But Fariñas denied having any knowledge or information on the supposed "parking" of funds.

"Anyone can see that in my district, all items are specific projects with specific amounts, and there is no lump sum project," Fariñas told reporters in a message.

Fariñas added that the projects in his district are in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Please note that we had a change of leadership on or about the time of the submission of the NEP, the day of the SONA or immediately thereafter," he said.

"Having said the above, I have not seen the list of the alleged 'parking funds,'" he added.

Current Majority Leader Rolando Andaya has also denied that there were insertions to the proposed national budget for 2019.

He also assured that all amendments and realignments in the budget will be itemized and that nothing will be identified after the General Appropriations Bill for 2019 has been passed into law. —NB, GMA News

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