Press Release
January 17, 2006
HOUSE DARED TO SPEED UP APPROVAL OF 2006 BUDGET TO DISPEL SUSPICION OF BRIBERY FOR CHARTER CHANGE
The Senate minority bloc is demanding speedy approval of the
proposed P1.06 trillion national budget to erase the suspicion that
it is being converted into a presidential pork barrel to be used by
Malacañang
to bribe lawmakers in order to fast track Charter Change
and foil another impeachment attempt against President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) said the
minority bloc, during its caucus Monday, reiterated the call on the
House of Representatives not to waste precious time and immediately
pass the national budget so that the Senate can begin deliberations
on the measure.
The group agreed not to take part in the Jan. 24 meeting of the
Council of State called by Malacañang
.
Pimentel said the seven opposition senators also reaffirmed their
stand that they will not back Charter Change since it is only being
used by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to neutralize the calls
for her resignation and to ensure her political survival.
"There will be no compromise because our position remains the same.
We amend the Constitution only after Gloria is gone," he said.
Pimentel said the delay in the enactment of the new budget is tied
up with the administration's plan to push Charter Change, and to
allow President Arroyo to stay in office with undiminished powers
during a so-called transition period from 2007 to 2010.
With the 2005 budget automatically reenacted due to the non-passage
of the new general appropriations act, Pimentel said the effect of
this is to see funds being re-allocated for projects already
implemented and completed last year.
"Projects that are programmed for 2006 cannot be implemented yet,
but the available funds can be used for pork barrel projects. In
other words, they can use the money to buy the support of members of
Congress who want to be bought," he said.
Pimentel also expressed alarm over the calculation of some House
leaders that the 2006 budget may not be approved by Congress until
May this year.
The minority leader said the administration "is having a nightmare"
over the lack of support for Charter Change in the Senate.
Pimentel said the President and top leaders of the ruling Lakas
Christian-Muslim Democrats party were taken aback by the absence of
any Lakas senator in the meeting of the party's national directorate
last Saturday.
"If they cannot get the support from Lakas senators, then how can
they convince the senators from other parties to go along with
Charter Change?" he said. "It is a clear sign that what they want is
not going to happen."
Pimentel said the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and
revision of codes and laws, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, may
still proceed with the public hearings on the resolution to amend
the Constitution. But he said this is not guarantee that the
resolution will be approved. |