By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo agreed with Cabinet Secretary Karlos Nograles that the House of Representatives will still support President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s programs despite his decision to veto PHP95.3 billion realigned by some congressmen in the 2019 national budget.
“Oo naman (Yes, of course),” Panelo told reporters in an interview after a Palace briefing on Monday.
In a press briefing last week, Nograles expressed confidence that the House will not “retaliate” since the President only did what he believed is “correct and legal” by vetoing the budget.
“We don’t see any retaliation from Congress kasi wala namang personalan dito (It’s nothing personal),” Nograles said in a briefing in Manila on April 17.
Panelo also pointed out that there will be a new set of lawmakers after the mid-term elections this May.
“May bago nang Kongreso (There will be a new Congress). It wouldn’t be the present Congress. After election, may bago na ‘yan (there will be new ones),” Panelo said.
Panelo, meanwhile, insisted that the last-minute insertions made by the lower chamber are “unconstitutional”.
“Hindi pupuwedeng i-approve ‘yun e dahil unauthorized ‘yun e. (They can’t be approved because they’re unauthorized). They’re in violation of the Constitution,” Panelo said.
Panelo also disagreed with claims that removing the PHP95.3 billion insertions would have an impact on some projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Di naman kasi may program na yung DPWH di ba. DPWH should know kung ano yung dapat na priority (I don’t think so because the DPWH already has its own programs. DPWH should know what the priorities are),” Panelo said.
Duterte finally signed the 2019 budget after long delay in its passage but vetoed PHP95.3 billion worth of appropriation which is “not part of the President’s priority projects.”
The delay in the budget’s passage stemmed from an impasse between the Senate and the House of Representatives after the lower house made last-minute amendments to the final version of the bill approved by the bicameral conference committee.
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