Palace on budget insertions, favored contractor: Just an allegation

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—The claims of Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. that at least P50 billion were inserted in the 2019 national budget and that the Palace favored a certain contractor were mere allegations for now, Malacañang said Tuesday.

In a privilege speech Monday, Andaya said Bulacan-based construction firm, CT Leoncio Construction and Trading, bagged 30 government projects worth billions of pesos before Congress could even approve the national budget for 2019.

READ: Andaya bares favored Palace contractor

A single proprietorship from Bulacan cornered contracts from even the farthest areas of the region. A miracle happened here,” Andaya said.

“It’s clear that even before the budget could be enacted, the funds already belonged to somebody and when (the National Expenditure Program) becomes law on Jan. 1, that lone contractor would have the projects, which it would just subcontract to other contractors,” he added.

Andaya also questioned the P50-billion increase in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH).

He disclosed that billions of pesos worth of flood control projects and other infrastructure projects had been earmarked for Catanduanes and Sorsogon without the knowledge of their respective district representatives.

Sought for comment, Panelo told INQUIRER.net in a text message that “right now it’s just an allegation.”

“Let’s wait for [Budget] Sec. [Benjamin] Diokno’s explanation on that,” he added.

Diokno confirmed to INQUIRER.net that he is attending the “Question Hour” at the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon to explain issues regarding the 2019 national budget. /jpv