Lacson: Many senators unhappy with ‘pork’ expose’

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said that many of his colleagues were unhappy with his allegation that the 2019 national budget was tainted ‘pork’.

“Alam kong maraming nagtatampo sa akin especially sa majority bloc pero tinayuan ko na ito e.  At wala akong masyadong magagawa kung magtatampo sila sa akin, magalit sila sa akin, basta ako alam ko basta  tama ginagawa ko,” he said in a phone patch  interview with Senate reporters.

(I know many colleagues are upset with me, especially those from the majority bloc, but I stand by my claim.  I can’t do anything if they feel that way.  What I know is that what I did was right.)

He did not name names or say how  many  senators felt slighted by his allegation, but said he  could  sense their sentiments especially when they  met in a caucus.

Senators held a caucus last Wednesday to tackle the budget and two days after,  Congress ratified  its approval.

Lacson was among the five senators who voted against it in the Senate.

But before  the Senate voted on the budget  last Friday,  Lacson delivered  a privilege speech  and  detailed  how  the P75 billion “pork”  was supposedly shared by  congressmen and some senators.

READ: Lacson: Kickbacks from P75B ‘pork’ peddled to contractors

While he was delivering his   speech,   the senator said he was observing the demeanor of his colleagues.

“Yung iba nakita ko parang may disdain. Iba parang nagising, oo nga pala, tama pala. I won’t mention names anymore but I’m sure may asar.  Mayroong medyo na-enlighten,” he said.

(I saw the others look at me with disdain, others appeared enlightened.)

“Kanya-kanyang diskarte, but sabi ko nga 24 republics kami sa Senado. Ganyan ang buhay. Kung lahat kami magtatalikuran na lang o kaya cge pabayaan na natin itong lahat kasi pabayaan nyo rin ako, anong mangyayari sa national budget? E di more of the same.”

(We are 24 republics in the Senate. That’s life.  If we just allow everybody to do what they want so that they in turn will leave me alone, than what will happen to the budget? Than it will be more of the same.)

Lacson has been  accusing  congressmen and some senators of allegedly   inserting billions  worth of  “pork” in the budget./gsg