Lacson reiterated his battle cry: “If it looks like pork, sounds like pork, and smells like pork, then it must be pork.”
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as been known for his advocacy against pork barrel.
During the budget hearing last week, Lacson stressed out that there are lawmakers who have abused their legislative powers enjoying the fruits if tens of millions pesos worth of “pork barrel” allocations.
But this time, he was glad that some of his colleagues in the Senate approached him saying that they will be submitting amendments to the 2019 budget out of respect for Lacson’s position that could be considered as pork.
“Nakakatuwa na may lumapit sa aking kasamahan ko, sabi nila, ‘Ping hindi rin kami magsa-submit kung magpa-submit kasi nakita naming ang parang paging sensible ng position mo. It’s not worth it,’ yan ang sawabi nila,” Lacson said.
Time and again, Lacson stressed that the Supreme Court had declared pork barrel allocations as illegal way back in the Aquino administration.
He continued his advocacy against pork barrel and had also revealed lawmakers from Lubao and Camarines Sur who have allotted P1.9 billion in “pork barrel.”
He, however, did not give a clue on who was given this “pork.”
This time, he had support from this 4 senators and said he was heartened to know that he is not the only one who is against pork barrel.
“May at least four senators na alam ko personal. Alam ko may iba na di nagsa-submit pero at least pero sana makasama ko na rin sila — kasama ko naman ang iba — nag-aano na rin pero mahirap mag-aral,” he said.
The names of the four senators who supports his advocacy wasn’t named.
Lacson is determined to flush out and expose some Php55 billion in pork barrel funds in the proposed 2019 national budget pending before the House of Representative which many call it the house of “Representathieves”.
The good senator will need a strong and moral support to President Rodrigo Duterte who is also determined to fight corruption.
The Senate started last Tuesday plenary debate on the House-approved proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019, with expectation that it be approved in six days.
Senators had balked at the pressure exerted on them to approve the budget after the Lower House sat on it for three months.
House leaders had claimed the delay was caused by change of House leadership where the post of Speaker was passed from Davao Rep. Alvarez to Arroyo.
Source: Politiko