Lacson: Critics won’t stop me from exposing budget anomalies

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said that revealing some legislators' attempt to use the public funds for their personal interests is part of his "patriotic duty to ensure good governance."

"If by exposing all attempts by some lawmakers to go around the Supreme Court ruling declaring pork as unconstitutional, thus stymieing the selfish interests of those elected to perform their legislative duty, I’ll be able to sleep soundly at night knowing that I’ve done my share in guarding against unnecessary wastage of public funds that has prevented our country from taking off and become competitive," Lacson said in a statement.

The senator—who has also been posting a series of blind items on his Twitter account about candidates he said he will not be voting for—added that negative comments from critics will not stop him from doing so.

"This is my biggest advocacy because the budget is the lifeblood of the nation. If this blood is taken away, the nation may suffer from anemia, or even a stroke," he added.

Lacson on Tuesday accused House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of tampering with the P3.75-trillion bicam-approved national budget for 2019.

He claimed that Arroyo's allies received allocations of P25 million for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) while the House members who did not support her election as Speaker only got P8 million.

Arroyo denied the allegation, according to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

House Appropriations Committee chairman and Camarines Sur 1st District Representative Rolando Andaya Jr., for his part, said that the lower chamber is still itemizing the lump sum funds in the proposed budget even after the bicam ratified it.

"The House is itemizing the appropriations therein, fleshing out lump sum funds, without departing from the approved specifications of the House-Senate approved budget, and by so doing make the budget more transparent and easy to scrutinize," Andaya said in a statement.

Lacson, however, reiterated that a provision in the 1987 Constitution has been violated and that Andaya's claim cannot be accepted.

"As if the act of 'itemizing' the allocations in the bicam can justify or cure what is explicitly provided under Art. VI Sec. 26 (2) of the Constitution, thus: 'Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed,'" he said. — BM, GMA News