Minority lawmakers say they’re also clueless why DICT budget was not taken in plenary

MANILA, Philippines – The early suspension of budget deliberations on Tuesday night, effectively leaving out the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) budget, apparently also caught lawmakers from the Minority by surprise.

“We’re not aware, we don’t even know. We were in the floor last night, but kami rin na-shock kami, na-surprise kami, all of a sudden suspended,” Minority Floor Leader and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

When asked why they, on the part of the Minority, did not question the decision, Abante said they cannot make comments as the session was already suspended.

“Well sinuspend na ‘yong ano eh (session), when you suspend the session, wala ka nang pagkakataon na mag-question,” he added.

Last September 10, the House of Representatives began the daily plenary debates on the proposed P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020, in an effort to avoid stalling the budget again, just like in 2018 when government was forced to operate on a reenacted budget due to several delays.

READ: House starts plenary debates on 2020 national budget

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The plenary debates were slated to start every 1:00 p.m., and end around 10:00 p.m.. But on Tuesday, the Majority moved to adjourn session at just 8:35 p.m., even as members of the DICT family including Secretary Gringo Honasan were present to defend their budget.

Abante said they would try to ask the Majority about it if there was sufficient time to discuss the matter.

“That’s the call of the Majority, sa amin sa Minority nabigla rin kami biglang suspended agad. Wala nang pagkakataong mag-question. We might (question later), if there is a time to be able discuss it, kasi ngayon dagdag na naman eh, nadagdag ‘yong DICT eh we are following a schedule,” Abante said.

“Aalamin namin yan. Siguro ang nangyari sa iba, at least 8:30 makakauwi na kami,” he added.

The Minority leader maintained that they do not know anything about rumors that the Majority’s move was a message for DICT, regarding disagreements with some of the department’s projects.

“We have to confess, as Minority leader, ignorante kami dyan. Hindi kami sinabihan eh. In the previous Congresses na nandoon ako, it is normal for the majority to suspend abruptly, and there’s no more question asked,” Abante said./ac