9 senators realign P1.8-billion porkBy TJ Burgonio, Gil C. Cabacungan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Thursday, January 9th, 2014
(from left to right) A. CAYETANO, P. CAYETANO, EJERCITO, ESTRADA, LAPID, RECTO, REVILLA, SANTIAGO, TRILLANES. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
Nine senators who had their pork barrel totaling P1.8 billion realigned to projects and the calamity fund in the 2014 national budget were well within their rights to do so, Sen. Francis Escudero said on Wednesday.
For instance, Escudero said, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was doing his job when he introduced an amendment to allot his P200 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation to three local government units [including Manila where his father is the mayor].
This came ahead of the implementation of the P2.265-trillion national budget, and hence, did not violate the Supreme Court decision striking down the 2013 PDAF as unconstitutional, according to the chair of the finance committee.
Even so, the final decision to release or not to release the fund allotted to the three local government units (LGUs) lay with the executive department, he said.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=77310.0