Deferral of PCOO budget discussions doesn't mean disapproval —Castro

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro on Wednesday said her move to defer the consideration of the 2019 budget of the Presidential Communications Operations Office does not mean that it will not be approved.

Castro made the remark after former Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson cited the delay in the approval of the proposed PCOO budget by "leftist" lawmakers as reason for her resignation.

Castro expressed disappointment over Uson's resignation, adding that they did not expect it.

Earlier, Castro moved for the deferment of the consideration of the PCOO's budget after Uson failed to attend the House plenary deliberations for the purpose.

"Ako naman, ginagawa ko lang yung trabaho ko bilang kongresista, at hindi naman ibig sabihin na dine-defer natin ang budget ng PCOO o anumang ahensya ay ibig sabihin nun ay hindi na natin ito ia-approve," she said.

During the deliberations of the PCOO's proposed budget at the Senate this Wednesday, Uson came and announced her decision to resign from her post, hoping that it would make way for the swift approval of the agency's budget in Congress.

"Taun-taon na lang, sinasabihan ako ng 'Huwag punahin ang mga mambabatas para hindi maipit ang budget ng PCOO.' Kaya ako na lang po ang magsasakripisyo para maipasa ang budget ng PCOO. Nagdesisyon po ako na mag-resign na po," she said.

But Castro hoped Uson would attend the budget deliberations just the same, saying that the questions she would have asked Uson were easy.

"Hindi niya ba kayang sagutin yung mga tanong na itatanong ng isang simpleng guro na naging kongresista na gaya ko?" Castro said.

"Siguro kung humarap lang siya sa kumite, humarap lang siya sa plenaryo, tiyak ko naman na masasagot niya yun," Castro added.

Besides, Castro said, the deferment of the consideration of the PCOO's budget was a "collegial" decision, not hers alone.

"Tungkulin ko pa rin na busisiin ang budget ng anumang ahensiya, nandoon man siya [sa PCOO] o hindi. Nagkataon lang na nandodoon siya." 

"Siguro pero ako bilang kongresista, anumang ahensiya yan kung meron tayong nakikitang anomalya, mayroon tayong nakikitang hindi maayos na paggamit ng pondo ng mamamayan, ng pera ng mamamayan, nandoon pa rin ako at magbubusisi at magtatanong para sa budget," Castro said. 

During Wednesday's House plenary session, no lawmaker wanted to interpellate Parañaque City Representative Eric Olivarez on the budget of the PCOO anymore, causing the deliberations to be finally terminated.

Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay is also convinced that Uson need not resign to save the PCOO's budget. —LBG, GMA News