(Eagle News)—The House of Representatives has officially withdrawn its version of the 2019 General Appropriations bill which it transmitted to the Senate for approval, Senate President Tito Sotto said.
The withdrawal of the enrolled bill assailed by the Senate came after House appropriations chair Rolando Andaya said this was to be done in line with Speaker Gloria Arroyo’s directive “to allow a last-ditch effort to break the budget impasse.”
Andaya, however, reiterated the House “did nothing unconstitutional, illegal or irregular,” and stood firm on what it said were mere itemizations in the proposed national budget already ratified by both houses of Congress.
The Senate had, however, accused the House of making realignments, which it said were unconstitutional, in the ratified version, with Sotto refusing to sign the House-enrolled budget bill.
“As far as the Senate (is concerned), we are consistent with our position. We are always guided by what is right and legal,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said.
Following the withdrawal, the House is expected to meet with its Senate counterparts to discuss contentious issues in the proposed national budget.
Andaya had said Arroyo had directed the setting up of a three-man team for this.
He said the House panel, which is composed of Andaya, San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, had given itself five days to complete the task.
Congress as a whole should come up with a budget bill that will be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for signature.
Duterte has reiterated the dangers of the government working on a reenacted budget while the 2019 national budget was not passed, but at the same time added he would not sign an “illegal document.”
