Roque parries question on opposition’s zero budget

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said Malacañang has nothing to do with the opposition lawmakers’ zero budget for 2018.

Roque said the executive branch could do nothing about the decision of Congress, citing separation of powers.

“I’m sorry but that question is based on the wrong premise that we control Congress. There is separation of powers. Congress has exclusive and primary jurisdiction in the preparation and approval of the budget,” he said in a Palace briefing when asked to comment on the zero budget of opposition lawmakers.

“We had nothing to do with whatever decision both houses of Congress had on the alleged deprivation of projects as far as opposition congressmen are concerned. That’s something that should be addressed to the leadership of both houses of Congress,” he added.

He said it was not Malacañang’s business to interfere with the decision of Congress particularly on the allocation of budget.

“[W]e can’t do anything about it because of the separation of powers. That’s something that Congress alone can decide,” he said

“It’s not a decision that we make because all public funds must be supported by an expenditure law. So it’s not for us, a decision for the Executive to make, it’s a decision that Congress makes,” he added.

On Wednesday, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez confirmed with the Inquirer that 24 “undesirable” lawmakers lost infrastructure funding for their constituents in the 2018 national budget due to politics.

“You win some, you lose some. They should understand that you can’t have your cake and eat it too,” Alvarez said.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has said that it was the prerogative of Congress to allocate bigger budgets for projects of lawmakers allied with the administration.