MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte wants to hear the explanation of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the alleged pork barrel insertions in the proposed 2019 national budget, Malacañang said Monday. “He (Duterte) said that there will be some explanation on the part of Speaker Arroyo and others. So let’s hear them,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters in a Palace briefing when asked about the President’s stand on the supposed budget insertions. “Contrary to the allegation of pork barrel, they (lawmakers) said that this time there were items and these items were given by different agencies. In other words, prior to the approval they’ve been there, unlike the pork barrel where there is no specific item where it will go,” Panelo said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 10, 2018 09:45 UTC