Lacson’s fear of ‘happy pork barrel days’ return under Arroyo is ‘speculative’ – Castro

The fear expressed by Senator Panfilo Lacson on a possible return of “happy pork barrel days” under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s leadership was “speculative” and “baseless,” Deputy Speaker and Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro said on Wednesday.

“The statement is speculative and a convenient guesswork, bereft of any legal and factual bases,” Castro said in a statement.

The lawmaker, an ally of Arroyo, pointed out that Lacson himself has cited the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the matter.

“Henceforth, regardless of who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court decision will always be observed,” he said, referring to the high court’s 2013 declaration of the “pork barrel” or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as unconstitutional.

READ: SC declares PDAF unconstitutional

On Tuesday, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. also assured that the leadership of the House would be observant of the SC ruling most especially regarding lump sum funds and the role of legislators in budgetary authorization.

“The process we will observe will be no different from the process adopted by the Senate,” he added.

READ: Atienza chides Lacson for warning against possible return of ‘pork barrel’

Lacson earlier said that if left unchecked, “we will be back to the happy pork barrel days of legislators.”

The senator also said he expects “massive mangling” of the National Expenditure Program under Arroyo’s watch, despite her assurance that all lawmakers, ally or not, would receive congressional allocations.   /muf

READ: Lacson fears return of ‘happy pork days’ under Arroyo