(NI ESTONG REYES)

HINIHINTAY pa ni House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang mga proyekto ng ilang kongesista upang maisingit bilang “pork barrel” sa P3.75 trillon national budget kaya hindi pa naisusumite sa Palasyo, ayon kay Senador Panfili “Ping” Lacson.

Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Lacson na sa kabila ito na ratipikado na ng dalawang Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang bicameral conference committee report.

Ayon pa kay Lacson, “hindi ba ninyo napapansin na hindi pa naisusumite ang budget bill sa Malacanang sa kabila nang may bicam report na at ratipikado ng dalawang Kapulungan ng Kongreso, dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas. ”

“I have it on good information that the House leadership is still waiting for several congressmen to finalize the submission of their individual projects. This is not to mention that insertions and realignments were made even after the bicameral report ratification,” paliwanag ni Lacson.

Sinabi ni Lacson na masyadong inaabuso ni Arroyo ang discretion nito na dapat hindi gagalawin ang national budget nang walang kaukulang pagsangayon ang Senado.

“While technically speaking, it may not constitute post-legislation enactment since the President has not yet signed the budget measure, we can see clear abuse of discretion especially if done without the concurrence of the Senate; it is also an utter disregard of the Supreme Court’s 2013 landmark ruling,:” ayon sa senador.

Malaki ang paniniwala ni Lacson na tahasang paglabag sa Saligang Batas ang ginagawa ni Arroyo.

“I’ve talked to some congressmen who expressed anxiety that the pork barrel allocations of at least 60 congressmen were slashed post bicam ratification,” aniya.
“Whatever it is, these are things that they do for greed. It’s a shame and revolting, to say the least,” dagdag pa ni Lacson.