THE PHILIPPINE STAR

news i THURSDAY I MARCH 7,2019

Rody won't meddle

in budget row
By CHRISTINA MENDEZ
President Duterte will
not interfere in the stale-
mate between the Senate
and the House of Repre-
sentatives over the P3.7-
trillion national budget
for this year, spokesman
Salvador Panelo said
yesterday.
Panelo said Duterte
will wait for the trans-
mission of the national
budget after the law-
- Palace
makers settle their dif-
ferences,
Senate PfesidentVice-
nte Sotto III vowed not
to submit the enrolled
version of the general
appropriations to Ma-
lacaffang due to alleged
last-minute insertions
after the ratification of
the bicameral report.
"(The President) will
not interfere with their
intramurals. They ra'ill
Turn to Page 4

of the President being aware 'To hold the budget hostage

Rody
have to settle whatever conflict
they have among themselves, "
Panelo said.
Panelo also disputed the
daim
of Sen Panfilo Lacson who in-
sinuad lastTuesday thathe was
acting as spokesman for Speaker
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyg who
denied that she tinkered w h
the 2019 budget after Congrcss
already ratified the bicam neport.
"I am not speaking for
Speaker Arroyo'. I was"onlv
relaying to the reporters what
she told me," Panelo said-
Panelo immediatelv called
Arroyo to clarify repofts quot-
ing Lacson that she directed
realignments of about p25
million from the Department
of Health budget to'her "fa-
vored" congressmen.
Because of Congress' failure
to hansmit the 20i9 budget to
Malacaffang, the govemment
is now working on a reenacted
budget.
Lacson claimed Arrovo or-
dercd the preparatio., utid i--
position of the menu list of the
DOH appropriations for Heaith
Facilities Enhantement Pro-
gram (HFEP) worthF25 million
Arroyo rcportedly wanted
the amount given "in individual
allocations for her favored con-
gressmen, including a P2.5 mil-
lion allocation for dre purchase
of an ambulance." Onlv P8 mil-
lion was given to cong**-*
who did not support Anoyo,s
. FromPase 1 of the developments.
Camarines Sur Reo. Ro-
now is not good. There will be
no disruptions and there will
election as speake4 Lacson said. lando Andaya Jr., cha'irman be no changes. I don't see any
of the House committee on problems."
lllegal insertions appropriations, refuted the With regard to the P15-
claims of Sotto. billion budget for the DOH
Sotto said he will not sisn "There's nothing illegal,
for purposes of "giving rnore
the enrolled copy of the prl- unconstitutional or surDris-
posed nahonal budget if there
meaning to the Universal
ing about it. It's all iri the Health Care Law," Andaya
were changes made after it framework. What we did was said the Iawmakers are no$rin
was ratified last Feb. 8.
the same thing they (senators) the process of making itemized
Sotto said he would rather did," Andaya said.
allocations for their districts.
err on the side of cautioh than
-"Vvo-uhlft it in {act be eood "It's because there were no
send to the President the copy,
which might include the sirl-
that we are tying to be cofipli- details whatsoever. We are
ant with the Supreme Court groping in the dark
as to who
posed insertions by Arrorlo (SC) decision? Because what
were the proponents in the
and her favored conitess-6n. we're doing now is we're try-
Senate," he said.
Sotto said he has received ing to identify and itemize the
jnformation that some cor!- Andaya called on the sena-
lump sum amgunts before the tors to come up with detailed
Srcssmen were trying to push budget reacles Malacariang" he allocations-
the inclusion of their pet proj- explained.
"How will we give meaning
ects in the ratified version. Andaya was referring to the
to the law whero these fundi
He said the amendments SC ruling in 2013 thaistruck
would likely render the 2019 will be going to the hospitals. It
donm the pork barrel allocatiors behooves bothhouses to provide
budget unionstitutional if for senators and congrtssmen
an itemized allocatiorl" Andaya
the matter is brought to the after the justices dis.ouYet"d
th"y said. '3ut of course we welcome
Supreme Court. were lump sum allocations.
the oiticisms."
Sotto did not rule out the gov- The SC said the Priodty De-
Lacsory howeveq, said item-
emment might have O work-on a velopment Assistance Funds
reenacted budget throughout the
izing appropriations in the
for lawmakers should be item- ratified 2019 national budget
year if the supposed insertiors
ized and downloaded directlv cannot be iustified.
werc not conecH. to agencies.
Lacson siid no amendment
Sotto said he will also trv to
"The only difference be- shall be allo*edin any bill ap-
bring the issue to the attenion
tween us is that the senators proved on last reading.
of the President at a meetinsare just 24 and we are ?92. So, "As if the act of itemizins'
today during the receptiof, ifs harder for us to identifu the the allocations
and state dinner for Prime proiects. Thafs the onlv differ- justi{y in the bicam ca3n
- or cure what is explicitly
Minister Mahathir bin. Moha- ence," Andaya said. prcvided under Article VI Sec.
mad at Malacaftang. He gave assurance the 2019 26 Q) of tJre C-onstihrtiorl thus:
Sotto said he knows Duterte budget will be ready before 'Upon the last reading of a bi[
would rather not meddle with fnonth's end-
no amendment thereto shall be
the affairs of the legislative "It will be readv bv the allowed'," Lacson poind out.
branch as a co-equal branch end of March, in time,"
but stressed-the impoitance Andava said- lust - Delon Porcalla, Cecille
Suerte Felipe

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