MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte will go over the proposed P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget before signing it amid allegations of “last-minute amendments”, Malacañang said Sunday, assuring the public that the spending bill will be in accordance with the Constitution.
“Gaya nga ng sinasabi natin mula’t sapul, kapag mayroong isang batas o panukala sa kanyang lamesa, itoy sasang-ayunan at pipirmahan niya kung ito’y naaayon sa Saligang Batas. At anumang probisyon na labag dito ay kanyang ive-veto,” Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview on Radyo Inquirer.
(As we have said before, when there is a law or proposal on his desk, he will approve and sign it only if it is in accordance with the Constitution. And any provision to the contrary will be vetoed.)
Panelo, however, could not ascertain when the President will sign the budget bill, which Congress has already ratified.
Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier questioned the alleged P83 billion “last-minute insertions” made by the House of Representatives in the budget bill which he said lacked clear details and could still be considered pork barrel.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he has already discussed the issue with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Acting Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado and claimed that they have already reached an “understanding.”