Drilon: Alleged ‘pork’ in national budget could become an ‘election issue’

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER.net photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The P3.757-trillion national budget allegedly filled with “pork” could be an “election issue” or basis for assessing candidates in the May elections, according to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

“Magiging election issue po yan. Pananagutan nila sa taong bayan kung paano ginagamit itong pondong nakalaan sa budget,” Drilon said over local radio station DWIZ.

Drilon also took the issue with legislators allegedly abusing their “powers” to provide amendments in the 2019 national budget.

“Sa akin po ang tinatawag nating pang-a-abuso sa karapatan at kapangyarihan sa paglagay ng amendments sa budget,” he said.

The minority leader was one of the senators who dissented against the Senate ratification of the national budget for 2019.

Drilon also revealed his budget amendments to the public and urged his colleagues to do the same “for purposes of transparency which we owe to the Filipino people.”

“Hinimok ko yung mga kasamahan natin lalo na sa mayorya na ihayag din sa taong bayan kung ano yung sinaksak nilang amendment sa budget,” the senator said. /jpv

READ: Drilon votes against approval of 2019 national budget