House lawmakers rally vs LacsonBy GLEE JALEAhome/News/Nation/House lawmakers rally vs LacsonThe word war between the House of Representatives and the Senate over the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget continues, with congressmen jointly dismissing allegations by Sen. Panfilothat they tweaked illegal insertions. House Deputy Speaker for Finance Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. described Lacson’s claims as “hearsay,” and part of a “political hatchet job” meant to ruin the reputation of the lower chamber. The House has approved in the plenary the 2020 General Appropriations Bill last September 20, two weeks before its self-imposed deadline. “For sure there is a great distinction between a letter-request and ‘pork barrel’ lobbying,” the former House majority leader said. The House, led by Cayetano, had repeatedly reiterated that the proposed money measure for 2020 is free of any illegal insertions.

Source: Manila Times September 27, 2019 17:03 UTC