Bago pa magisa: House panel swiftly ends briefing on Office of the President’s 2022 budget

By Billy Begas

The House Committee on Appropriations on Friday (Sept. 3) terminated the deliberation on the budget of the Office of the President without allowing any congressman to ask any question.

After the committee acknowledged the members of the House and officials from the OP who were present, Pangasinan Rep. Tyrone Agabas moved to terminate the deliberation.

“Following the long established tradition of extending parliamentary courtesy to a co-equal branch of government such as the Office of the President and in reestablishing the tradition I move that we terminate the budget briefing of the Office of the President,” Agabas said.

Several lawmakers seconded the motion while Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago objected.

Committee Vice chairperson and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Dalipe then suspended the briefing.

After few minutes, the briefing was resumed and Dalipe said that Elago is not a member of the committee.

“The objection from the honorable Sarah Elago cannot be counted considering that she is not a member of the Committee on Appropriations. So the Chair now will rule the motion as approved,” Dalipe said.

Dalipe said lawmakers can still ask questions on the OP budget during the plenary deliberation. “Wag kayo mag-alala daraan pa tayo sa plenaryo.”

He then allowed lawmakers who wanted to give their manifestations.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro was puzzled why the committee railroaded the deliberation.

“Ano ba ang tinatago ng Office of the President? Hindi ba nila kayang i-justify iyong mga nilagay nilang line item? Iyong mga nilagay nila ditong napakalalaking amount para sa intelligence fund?” Castro asked.

Castro said she wanted to ask questions on the P4.5 billion intelligence and confidential fund for 2022 and the high travel expenses under OP.

“Siyempre, the OP is a purely civilian office with NO military or uniformed personnel. The President, even though he is the commander in chief of the AFP, is himself a civilian. Sa lagay na lagpas 2/3 ng MOOE ng opisina niya ay intelligence and confidential funds,” Castro added.

Elago said the committee in the previous years has allowed lawmakers to ask questions on the OP budget.

“Why is the Committee now denying this very right to the House members especially those from the Minority now? Hindi makikita sa budget briefer ng OP ang matagal ng hinihinging isapubliko na SALN, health records, at mga dapat busisiin na pondo ng NTF-ELCAC,” Elago added.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate also slammed the railroading of the budget briefing.

“It is emblematic of the lack of transparency under the Duterte administration,” Zarate said. “This is an opportunity for members to also perform their duties in the checks and balance of the different branches of government. If this is not done as mandated, then this is an abdication of the Congress’ power of the purse, making it a rubberstamp of the Executive.”

Committee chairman and ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap took responsibility on what happened.

“Bilang chairman ng Committee on Appropriations I take full responsibility dito sa nangyari ngayong araw na ‘to. Ang tama naman po talaga na plenary doon po lahat mabibigyan ng pagkakataon Makakapagtanong po lahat ng mga members. Wala po tayong itinatago. In fact nag-submit ang Office of the President ng kanilang mga briefing and pwede na po nating busisiin to ngayon para sa plenary pwede po silang makapagtanong. Lahat po ng miyembro ay mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na magtanong,” Yap said.

Bago pa magisa: House panel swiftly ends briefing on Office of the President’s 2022 budget
Source: Philippines Clips