MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday backed the re-enacted budget proposal now being pushed by “frustrated” Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Sotto’s proposal was prompted by “pork” allegations that continue to hound the 2019 national budget deliberations.
“He (Sotto) must be as frustrated as I am as well as most of our like-minded colleagues that pork has not left the annual budget even after the SC ruling outlawing the same in a landmark decision,” Lacson said in a text message.
READ: ‘Sick and tired’ of pork talk, Sotto moves for reenacted budget
In 2013, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the Priority Development Assistance Fund ( PDAF) also known as “pork barrel” of legislators.
READ: SC declares PDAF unconstitutional
“It goes without saying, I will support the decision of my Senate President in this regard,” Lacson said.
Lacson noted that Sotto that since the 17th Congress started in 2016, Sotto was one of three senators who has approached him to say that they would not avail of their regular ‘pork’ allocation if offered.
The two others, he said, are Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
“I know there are others among our colleagues who have since done the same,” Lacson said. /ee