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Lacson on budget negotiations with House: Senate won’t compromise


Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Sunday said that the Senate will not compromise in the upcoming meeting between the two chambers of Congress to discuss the still unsigned 2019 national budget proposal.

"I relayed through Congressman [Ronaldo] Zamora that the Senate has defined our baselines and that the middle ground can only be above those baselines, not below," Lacson said.

Lacson said Zamora told him in return that House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "seems receptive."

"We have most if not all the chips in this negotiation. If they are not aware of that, we are," the senator added.

The enactment of the proposed P3.757-trillion budget was caught in an impasse due to the lower chamber's alleged realignments after the budget bill's ratification in early February.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III did not sign the bill, saying it was no longer faithful to what they ratified. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News

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