Arroyo denies ‘manipulations,’ P25M realignment in ratified 2019 budget — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denied Tuesday the latest claim of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the House of Representatives led by her was manipulating the 2019 budget even after it was ratified.

Lacson alleged that Arroyo has directed the realignments of P25 million budget from the Department of Health (DOH) for her “favored” congressmen.

READ: Lacson: Arroyo realigns P25M budget to ‘favored’ solons

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo called Arroyo after the Palace briefing to clarify the issue.

“According to Speaker Arroyo, as far as she knows, whatever is approved in the bicam is now the one being printed for submission to the Executive [branch],” he told Malacañang reporters after his phone call with Arroyo.

Panelo said Arroyo told him that nothing was changed in the bicameral report on the 2019 national budget.

“Wala raw siyang alam. As far as she know, wala raw nabago doon sa bicam [report],” he added. /je