Batasan smells anew

Dear Editors,

Suspicions again cropped up over the motivation of the House of Representatives, particularly Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymond Villafuerte, in withdrawing the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

No less than House Appropriations Committee chairman Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab stressed that the GAB should be a “faithful reproduction” of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) or the President’s budget.

By “faithful reproduction,” I understand, should be tackled “as-is” and should not be tinkered with nor revised — not, of course, by these congressmen.

I can’t help but remember what transpired last year when members of the House of Representatives did the same — recall the 2019 proposed national budget after then Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took the speakership from Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.

It was later found out that the recall was prompted by P95 billion realignments by some congressmen. Good thing President Duterte vetoed these items. But still, the economy suffered due to a reenacted budget during the early months of 2019.

Ironically, at that time, Villafuerte was among those who was against the recall being on the other side of the fence. Politician indeed.

Now, what really prompted Villafuerte to withdraw the 2020 GAB? He claimed it was prematurely filed.

Prematurely filed? Not really, as no less than Rep. Isidro Ungab stated that the withdrawal would only derail the

budget deliberations.

For me, I see no other motivation than making and identifying their insertions or “pork barrel” in the proposed 2020 budget, which was declared by the Supreme Court as illegal.

Year after year, these congressmen have become so addicted to “pork barrel” that they don’t care anymore about what the public says about them. Thick-faces, they are!

I hope that you will publish my letter for these corrupt politicians to know what we think about them. I am sure they are reading the Daily Tribune.

Thanks,

Roel Paraz San Rafael, Bulacan