Lacson on ‘pork’ allegations: This is not about Arroyo

Senator Panfilo Lacson answers questions from reporters at the kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, August 2, 2018.
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — This is not about Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said this on Monday, responding to a lawmaker’s allegation that he is “holding hostage” the 2019 national budget because of a “personal vendetta” against the Speaker.

“Sen. Panfilo Lacson is holding the budget hostage because of personal vendetta to our Speaker GMA. He has not said anything good about the Speaker from the very start of her leadership as the speaker and in fact even before the change of leadership in the House…” Deputy Minority Leader and Coop-Natco party-list Rep. Anthony Bravo said at a press conference.

But Lacson belied Bravo’s allegation, saying he had long forgiven all those who had wronged him.

“That only reflects the true attitude and the real character of Congressman Bravo. Kasi kung ganun ang line of thinking niya, ganun siya,” the senator told reporters at the Senate.

Unlike Bravo, Lacson said he is a “forgiving person.”

“This is not about Speaker Arroyo. This is not about any congressman or any senator. This is about my advocacy, my crusade against the pork barrel system and this is about the national budget,” he further said.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III came to Lacson’s defense.

“Buong Senado ang may problema dito, hindi naman si Senator Lacson lang,” Sotto said in another interview.

“It’s just Sen. Lacson has been very vocal about it and he’s been very much against pork barrel,” the Senate leader added.

It was Lacson, who exposed the alleged realignments the House of Representatives had made in the 2019 national budget despite its ratification by both chambers of Congress. /je

READ; Lacson bares ‘revolting’ House cut on ‘pork’ after budget ratification