Bravo defends House from Lacson’s ‘pork’ allegations
Credit to Author: kadraneda| Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2019 06:02:24 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — COOP NATCCO Rep. Anthony Bravo on Friday defended the House of Representatives from Senator Panfilo Lacson’s allegations that the chamber inserted hundreds of millions of pesos in “pork” allocations in the proposed P3.8-trillion 2019 national budget.
READ: Ping: Pork per House member increased to P160 million
“Kung sa House galing ang amendment, ano ang tawag ng publiko including the Senate? Pork po ‘yan. Pag galing po sa Senate ano’ng tawag nila? Institutional amendment ho ‘yan,” Bravo lamented during a press conference.
The party-list representative criticized the “sudden turnaround” of Lacson when he accused that House members were getting P160 million worth of projects in the spending bill days after the senator said he acknowledged and understand the needs of the congressmen.
“The senator kept on saying that their amendments were institutional and not individual amendments. If that is so, why are they so afraid of itemizing their amendments? Dahil ba makikita ng publiko ‘yung mga isinali nila o isinaksak nila na billion peso?” Bravo asked.
The two are both members of the Senate-House conference tasked to finalize this year’s expenditure plan.
“Our position was clear. Every amendment to the 2019 budget must be known to the public and approved by the senators and congressmen. No media coverage, in our position, no bicam,” Bravo said.
“Senator Lacson did not attend the first bicam… Maybe he was busy. Nagpakita lang po siya sa susunod na session nang malaman na may media coverage,” he added.
Lacson, in an interview on Wednesday at the bicam, said it would be impossible to itemize the Senate’s amendment’s line-by-line.
“Do not ask for the impossible. ‘Pag hingan kami ng imposible paano namin maibibigay? Abutin tayo maski tatlong pasko ‘di kaya ibigay ang hinihingi na line by line items ng institutional amendments,” he said. /kga