Lacson pays tribute to Boholano ‘mentor’ in scrutinizing nat’l budget

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Independent presidential candidate, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Independent presidential candidate, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, acknowledged a Boholano for his passion for scrutinizing the yearly national budget.

Lacson, credited to have saved at least P300 billion in taxpayers’ money from corruption, said it was Jagna Mayor Joseph Rañola who “ignited’ his interest in studying the budget – and ferreting out irregular if not corruption-marred entries in the government’s spending plan.

“The Filipino people owe it to him na may Sen. Lacson sa Senado na nagtitiyaga at nagkakalkal ng budget,” he said,” he said at the start of a meeting with sectoral groups in Tagbilaran, Bohol.

(The Filipino people owe it to him that there is a Senator Lacson who painstakingly pores through the national budget).

READ: Lacson: Close scrutiny of budget saved P300 billion

Lacson narrated that when he first won as senator in 2001, he was still used to his work as a law enforcer and was not too familiar with legislative work.

He said it was Rañola who he said showed him the ins and outs of the budget bill.

After that, Lacson would learn to flag and move for the deletion of questionable entries and insertions in the budget bill.

“It was difficult to study the budget at first, but with his help, I conquered it. I am proud to say it was a Boholano who taught me everything to know about the budget, he is my original teacher,” Lacson said in Filipino.