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The ongoing attempt to insert budget for the final projeets by some
House members is a clear violation of the Supreme Court decision
"declaring "pork barrel" as unconstitutional
8y lllarlo J, ltlallali
The Senate will block a4y attempt by the
House of Representaiives to make any charges,
particularly inserting 'pork barrel,' in the
'P3.?5?trillion 2019 national budget ratified by
a bicameral conference committee.
' Court
This, after Sen. Panfilo Lacson revealed
alleged efforts by some House leaderc to tinkdr
with the approved budget measure supposedly
'tto insert 'pork baxrel'to congressional distdcts
. ,of sevoral congressmen,
Tho bicamoral conference committee,
*eaded by Senale Finflnce Conunitteo chairman
.Loren Legarda and Houso Appropriations
'C0mmittee head Rep. $olando Andaya,
approved the P3.757 trillion 2019 proposed
nationul budget last 8 Fehuary.
Ilowovor, the approved measure, according
to Laffon, hus not besn submitted to President
Dutefte for epproval,
Lacson sald Sonato Pr€sident vicente Sotto
III and lrgnrda oro d.ware ofthe llouse mwes
alegedly dosignod to insort individual projects
by some congrogsmen,
Acc0rding t0 Laoson, Legarda assued thai
if there will be changes in tho rotlfled budget
measure, she lvill call a m€eting of all s€naton
for discussion.
"\l'e will decido as a body on what to do.
0f course, the bottom line is we will not allow
it and we will stick to the one ratified by the
bicameral conference committee report," said
Lacson over radio on Saturday.
I
'I think all of our colleagues will cooperate
because this is important...this is the most
important piece of legislation," he added.
Eaxlier, Lacson had revealed information
coming from some conglessmen regarding
efforts by some House leaders to slash the budget
-
allocation of some 60 lawmalus appaxeftly
for txansfer to otfte$.
The bottom line is we \rill not
allow it and we will Stick to the
one ratifled by the bicameral
conference comndttee report.
'I have it on good information that the
I{ouse leadership is still waiting for several
congressmen to finalize the cubmission of
their individual projects," said Lacson without
naming names.
nlhis is not t0 mention that insertions
and realignments were made even a.fter the
bicameral repoft ratification,' he added.
Lacson said the approved 2019 budget
remh.ins loa.ded with "pork banel' - both by ' Lacson said,
some sena.tors and all members of the llouse
of Replesentatives.
He said P23 billion in individual insertions,
which he considered as "pork baxrel," was made
by some senatoru whil€ each congessman was
nlhttod P160 million.
Lacson previously identlfied Legarda
0s having allotted P2.8 billion for
Antique province where she is running as
c0ngresswoman.
According to Lacson, the ongoing
ott€mpt lo lnsert budgel, for the final d#
projscts by somo House members is a-ffi
clear violalion of the Supreme ft
decision declaring'pork barrel' as 1
u nstitulio nal.
nco
'While techrically speakin{, lt may not
constitlt€ post]egislstion €nactm€nt sinco
the President ha^s not yei signod the budget
moasur€, w€ con so€ clear abuse of disoetion
espoclally lf done without the concurrence
of the Senate; it is also an utter disregard of
the Supreme Coufi's 2013 landmaxk ruling,"

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