Solon: It’s up to Duterte to decide on 2020 budget

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, the chair of the House appropriations panel, neither confirmed nor denied Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s assertion that the House leadership had inserted “last-minute amendments” into the 2020 budget before its ratification last week.

In response to Lacson’s allegation that P83 billion worth of funds were realigned, Ungab said on Monday that he was leaving the matter to President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Well, he has his figures,” he said of Lacson’s claims. “I don’t want to comment any further because the next step will be with the Office of the President. I don’t want to preempt the executive department.”

On Monday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III asked Lacson to submit the list of questionable projects that the House allegedly inserted in the draft P4.1-trillion 2020 budget.