MANILA, Philippines - Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila De Lima of the House of Representatives has criticized Sen. Panfilo Lacson's suggestion to adopt the 2026 National Budget without changes by both the House and Senate, saying that his suggestion will not address the problem and could also set a "dangerous precedent."
"With due respect to Senator Ping (Lacson), I do not agree with his suggestion. Hindi natin pwedeng daanin sa experiment ang pera ng taumbayan. Congress has the power of the purse. Kapag hindi namin sinuri ang panukalang budget, tinalikuran na rin namin ang mandato ng Konstitusyon, yung tungkulin namin sa taumbayan (We cannot resolve the issue by experimenting with the money of the people. Congress has the power of the purse, if we don't scrutinize the budget proposal, we have abandoned our constitutional duty and our duty to our people)," De Lima said in a statement on Saturday.
She said that instead of approving the budget bill without any changes, she called on lawmakers to "thoroughly" scrutinize the budget and hold those involved in anomalous projects accountable.
De Lima bucks Lacson's budget 'experiment
"Let's safeguard our nation's coffers—from the budget proposal, to the deliberations and passage in Congress, including the deliberations at the BiCam level, up to the implementation by government agencies," de Lima said.
Lacson, in an interview on Friday, believes that his "experiment" could break the cycle of post-submission amendments that opens the door to alleged pork barrel practices and corruption.
De Lima bucks Lacson's budget 'experiment, This news data comes from:http://iqrtdj.jyxingfa.com
- SpaceX cancels Starship megarocket launch
- 15 people hospitalized after double-decker bus crashes outside London's Victoria Station
- Alex Eala targets US Open Round of 32 in rematch against Spanish rival
- Trump moves to cut more foreign aid, risking shutdown
- Chinese sleeper agents' and PLA operatives a threat, Lacson warns
- Labubu fans flock to stores after launch of mini dolls
- A suicide bombing near a political rally in southwestern Pakistan kills 13 and wounds 30
- Australia halts logging for koala haven on eastern coast
- BIR to audit contractors flagged for ghost flood projects for tax fraud — BIR
- India to cut taxes on hundreds of consumer goods to boost local demand following steep US tariffs
