SENATOR Panfilo Lacson is not alone in his fight against the supposedly continuous existence of “pork barrel” in the budget. Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd was one of the two senators who informed Lacson during deliberations on the proposed 2017 national budget that they were among those who did not submit a project proposal to be funded by the budget. Like Lacson, Sotto said he believes that there was “pork” in the budget and it is the reason why he decided to abstain from voting in favor of ratifying the 2017 budget in plenary last December 14. Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier admitted that he submitted his proposed project he wants to be funded in the 2017 national budget but insisted that there is nothing illegal about it. The Senate majority leader said he supports Lacson in his interpretation on what “pork barrel” really is and that lawmakers should not be involved in the identification of projects in the national budget before or after its enactment.

Source: Manila Times January 13, 2017 11:02 UTC