Lacson says trillions in debt a shameful legacy; Sotto doubts Philippines better off

It would be a shame for any public official to leave trillions of pesos in debt as a legacy, presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

The lawmaker made the statement while explaining the lawmakers' pork barrel and the problem of allocating huge funds to local districts with low absorptive capacity.

"Yung utang natin pagbaba ni [late former President Benigno Aquino III in] 2016, P5.9-trillion. Ngayon magkano? P12.09-trillion and counting. Ang projection nga bago mag-June 30 nasa mga P13.4-trillion tayo," Lacson said in an interview with a local radio station in Bohol.

(Our debt after  President Aquino's term is at P5.9 trillion. How much is our debt right now? It is at P12.09 trillion and counting and there is a projection that before June 30, it will reach P13.4 trillion.)

"So, ito ‘yung ipapamana natin sa susunod na generation. ‘Di ba, nakakahiya itong generation natin na sa halip na pamanahan natin ‘yung mga susunod na generation ng magandang Pilipinas, utang ‘yung ipapamana natin? Parang ang hirap naman yatang dadalhin natin sa libingan natin ‘yung legacy natin ay utang," he added, without mentioning names.

(This is what the next generation will inherit. Isn't it embarrassing that instead of inheriting a better Philippines, we will give the next generation the burden of paying for our debt? It is difficult to bring the legacy of debt to our graves.)

On March 31, the Bureau of Treasury reported that the Philippine government's outstanding debt grew to P12.09 trillion as of the end of February.

On the other hand, Lacson's running-mate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III asked the public if the Philippines is better off under the Duterte administration.

He made the remark when asked about his opinion of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte running for the second highest position in the country.

"Well, are we better off in the last six years? That is the question. Do we want a continuance of what we’re having in the last six years? Were we able to uplift the economy of government? Na-uplift ba ‘yung buhay ng tao? Last year P4-trillion ang budget; ngayon, P5-trillion ang budget. Natikman niyo ba? Nakatikim ba kayo?" he asked.

"Kung ang sagot ninyo doon ay 'oo', e 'di ituloy ninyo. Pero kung ang sagot niyo roon ay “hindi”, aba, teka muna, dito na tayo sa nakasisiguro tayo na may magagawa," he added.

The vice presidential candidate then vouched for Lacson and his transparency and accountability measures.

"How transparent, accountable as what we have done before and we have shown during our track records, ano. Na mabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na kami magpatupad nitong mga batas na hindi napapatupad nang maayos ng executive department. Meron naman silang nagagawang maganda pero—ibig sabihin, na napapatupad nang maayos. Pero marami roon sa mga importante, ‘pag kami nagpatupad, sigurado magagandahan kayo," Sotto said.

Among the key legislation that he plans to implement properly is the Medical Scholarship Act or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act which will give an opportunity for aspiring doctors.

Lacson and Sotto recently visited Bohol and Cebu to woo voters in Region VII. -- BAP, GMA News