Drilon to oppose proposed 2019 budget if P55-B ‘insertions’ remain

Senator Franklin Drilon
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon would not only oppose the passage of the 2019 national budget, but if needed, he would also “filibuster” if the reported P55 billion “pork”  insertions would no be deleted.

This warning came after the proposed budget deliberation was reportedly stalled in the House of Representatives allegedly over the P55-billion insertions included on it.

READ: House leaders bicker over ‘pork’

“I will oppose the passage of the budget and filibuster, if needed, if these pork barrel allocations/insertions remain,” Drilon said in a text message when asked if the reported infighting in the House could delay the approval of next year’s budget.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, meanwhile, shrugged off the bickering in the House, saying the Senate would still act on the General Appropriation Bill (GAB).

“It’s not our problem,” Sotto said in another text message. “We will act on what GAB they will transmit to us.”

Despite the reported  rumblings in the lower chamber, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he still expects the timely passage of the GAB before yearend.

“We will wait for the House to pass their version of the budget. I expect the budget to be passed on time by December,” Recto said in a separate text message. /jpv