Palace denies touching minority solons’ 'pork' funds

Malacañang on Sunday insisted it did not touch the pork barrel funds of lawmakers belonging to the minority bloc of the House of Representatives.

 

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte contested reports that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad had “admitted” that the pork barrel — or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) — for minority solons were given to local officials in their districts.

 

“First, we do not touch the PDAF of the minority congressmen. The other thing is, whatever funds given to the local government units are from the savings of the national government,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

 

She branded as “inaccurate” earlier reports that said pork barrel funds of minority congressmen were given to the local government units of the districts they represent.

 

Lawmakers in the minority bloc, including those allied with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, earlier claimed their pork funds were not being released.

 

Valte said the funds for local projects that are given to the LGUs came from savings generated by the national government.

 

“Sa aking pagkakaalam ang pondo na naibibigay sa local project ay galing sa savings na na-generate ng national government ... Ang pagbigay sa proyekto dahil sa savings na generate ng national government at hindi ginagamit ang pork barrel ng minority congressmen,” she said. - KBK, GMA News