Sotto tags some House members ‘masters of obfuscation’

Senate President Vicente Sotto III at the Senate Session hall (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Sunday described some members of the House of Representatives as “masters of obfuscation.”

Sotto made the remark amid a deadlock in the approval of the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 as allegations of post-ratification realignment surfaced from both chambers of Congress.

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“It appears they are masters of obfuscation. Him and his cohorts,” he said in a Viber message to reporters when sought for a comment on a recent statement by House Majority Floor Leader Fredenil Castro.

Castro said that the Senate was the one blocking the approval of the budget and not the House of Representatives.

“Other good congressmen know what’s really happening,” Sotto added.

The proposed budget, which has been ratified by Congress early February, has yet to reach President Rodrigo Duterte for signature.

Senators have been calling for the retention of the ratified version of the budget bill with lump-sum appropriations, while the House wants to pass the budget that it has itemized after both chambers ratified it. /atm

READ: Andaya to Senate: We have until May to pass 2019 national budget