Duterte to veto unlawful allocations in 2019 nat’l budget
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:18:39 +0000
President Duterte is prepared to use his veto power to block any unlawful allocation in the proposed 2019 national budget, Malacañang said yesterday Thursday.
Presidential spokesperson Savaldor Panelo said the President would “correct” the measure if any budget allocation violates the Supreme Court ruling that declared the “pork barrel” system as unconstitutional.
“The President is a lawyer. He knows his law. If he thinks that it is in violation enunciated by the Supreme Court, then he will do what is right,” Panelo said during a Palace press briefing.
“What we recognize is the power of Congress to amend, to review and to do whatever it feels is correct, necessary, and right. We leave it to them. Now, if the President feels that it’s wrong, then he can use his veto power to correct it,” he added.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier urged the President to use his line-time veto power to remove the alleged pork barrel allocations inserted in the 2019 budget bill. The two Houses of Congress have yet to pass the budget proposal amid allegations of irregular budget insertions for the year.
At present, Panelo said he was puzzled by the fuss over the budget allocations included by the lawmakers in the proposed 2019 outlay. He found no problem with the budget amendments as long as the funds will go to the districts, not the pockets of lawmakers.
“I cannot even understand the fuss of all these. Kasi when you allocate for a particular district, that means that district, the reasonable assumption is they need it. Ang importante kay Presidente gagamitin mo ba ‘yan sa pangangailangan ng distrito mo o kukuratin mo lang yan?” he said.
“Wala rin akong makitang problema e. Precisely, distirict needs money to improve itself. Ano namang masama doon kung meron silang pondo?” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling)