MANILA, Philippines—Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. on Wednesday described as “false” a report by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that supposedly implied he padded his priority development assistance funds (PDAF) by P110 million.
Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Revilla said the DBM report uploaded on its website on January 3 showed that his office was appropriated P210 million pesos in PDAF, also known as pork barrel, and that he supposedly spent P115 million for 529 Multicabs to be used as patrol vehicles in Cavite.
“The report is false. There was no acquisition of 529 Multicabs for Cavite,” said Revilla in a statement on Tuesday.
Contrary to the website’s data, Revilla said, only 23 Multicabs were acquired through his PDAF which amounted only to P5 million and not P115 million.
“The report reflected that entry 23 times. Kaya iyon P5 million, naging P115 million (So the P5 million has become P115 million),” he pointed out.
“The DBM must clear this. It’s not right that it appears my PDAF was grossly disproportional to those of my colleagues. They should also correct it because the report implied that my PDAF was padded by P110 million,” said the senator.
“They should be careful with releasing facts. Inaccuracy on sensitive information can damage people,” he added.
Revilla said most of his PDAF went to medical assistance throughout the country and not to the acquisition of patrol vehicle. Other expenditures, he said, went to the improvement of vital infrastructures in the country.