(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday, March 5, accused Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of violating the 1987 Constitution when she supposedly tampered with the P3.75-trillion 2019 national budget already ratified by Congress.
In a statement, Lacson said apart from violating Article VI Section VI of the Constitution, Arroyo also committed “grave abuse of discretion” when she, even after Congress’ approval of the budget, allotted P25 million for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the districts whose House representatives voted for her as Speaker in July last year.
He said those who did not vote for her were allocated P8 million.
“I maintain, and I trust that majority of my colleagues in the Senate will agree, that such realignments ordered by Speaker Arroyo prior to the printing of the proposed 2019 budget is clearly unconstitutional and inappropriate,” Lacson said.
But according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Arroyo has denied the allegations.
Panelo made the revelation after a phone call with the Speaker herself.
“According to Speaker Arroyo, as far as she knows, whatever is approved in the bicam is now the one being printed for submission to the executive,” Panelo said.
The Congress-approved budget for 2019 is awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.
