Lacson fears return of ‘happy pork days’ under Arroyo

Sen. Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER file photo

If unchecked, Senator Panfilo Lacson warned of a possible return of the “happy pork barrel days” of legislators despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that it was unconstitutional.

Lacson said  he was also expecting a  “massive mangling” of the National Expenditure  Program (NEP) following Speaker  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s assurance that all lawmakers would receive congressional allocations.

Arroyo earlier gave the assurance that no legislator, even a rival, would receive a zero budget under her watch as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

READ: Unlike Alvarez, Arroyo won’t give zero budget to rival solons – Andaya

“With the policy statement issued by Speaker GMA (Arroyo’s initials) concerning all the congressmen’s earmarks for their respective districts, I am expecting a massive mangling of the NEP,” Lacson said in a text message on Tuesday.

“If not checked, we will be back to the happy pork barrel days of legislators in spite of the SC ruling outlawing the same.”

In November 2013, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) also known as “pork barrel.”

READ: SC declares PDAF unconstitutional

“Worse, all the planning involved in the preparation of the national budget will be rendered inutile to the detriment of the medium development plan of the national government, as well as the local development plans submitted by the LGUs (local government units),” Lacson went on.

Arroyo has taken leadership of the House of Representatives following a successful ouster bid against then-Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. /cbb