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Over P30-B 'pork' funds hidden in 2008 budget bill - Lacson


Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday belied Budget Sec. Rolando Andaya Jr's claim that the P30-billion pork in the budget is "imaginary," saying there may be far more than P30 billion in pork barrel funds hidden in the P1.227-trillion proposed national budget for 2008. In a television interview, Lacson - a member of the congressional bicameral conference committee - said that pork funds that amounts to over P30 billion are hidden in various items in the budget bill. "The national budget especially 2008, that's one big, big barrel of pork whether it belongs to congressmen, senators or the Office of the President, really it's one big parking lot for insertions and realignments of different nomenclatures," he said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. "At ibang nomenclature na naka-park sa iba't ibang department. Baka ang P30 billion hindi lang P30 billion. I'm being kind, it's an underestimation... The devil is in the details. Pag talagang scrutinize mo ang budget makikita mo ang kalokohan doon," he added. Aside from the "hidden" pork funds, Lacson also pointed out the government has set aside P3 billion for "Kilos Asenso" and P1 billion for "Kalayaan sa Barangay" funds. Lacson also noted that the pork in the budget still does not include billions of pesos in the President's Social Fund, which he said is an "off-budget" item. Lacson said the government also stands to gain P12 to P13 billion in "savings" from the appreciation of the peso. He said that when the budget was drafted, it assumed an exchange rate of P46 to 48 to $1. The peso's exchange rate is presently hovering at P42 to $1, he noted. Meanwhile, Lacson said Malacañang may be violating the law by refusing to release pork barrel funds for lawmakers critical of it. He cited the cases of Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV, Loren Legarda, Rodolfo Biazon and even Richard Gordon. "Saan yan napupunta? Doon sa national fund," Lacson said. - GMANews.TV

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