Page 27 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'A' Issue

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Aflonutit-iPnDgASFC crruulisnagd,erhurhlistschAabllaedngefor
Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad.
DBM HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA - Budget Secretary
Florencio Abad has come under fire anew
from the young lawyer-senatorial
aspirant who had filed the petition that
led to the Supreme Court's ruling
outlawing the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF).
In a statement on Wednesday, Greco
Belgica said Abad lied when he claimed
he was abiding by the SC verdict of 2013,
when in truth he was "circumventing" it.
Belgica dared Abad to prove him
wrong or resign. In turn, he promised to
abandon his candidacy for 2016, forever
keep his mouth shut on the pork barrel
and face the consequences of his actions,
if Abad can prove him wrong.
"I reiterate my challenge to the great
gentleman from Batanes, to face us like a
true leader and gentleman and answer
our allegations face to face, item per item
Cebu City may operate on re-enacted
budget after acting mayor rejects 2016
budget
CEBU CITY -- The Cebu
City government may operate on
a re-enacted budget this year
after Cebu City Acting Mayor
Edgardo Labella vetoed the P6.4-
billion 2016 budget approved by
the council.
A re-enacted budget means the
city will use the 2015 annual
appropriation of P13.4 billion,
which is more than double the
supposed annual budget for 2016.
Labella is acting mayor while
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama
is serving a 60-day suspension
imposed by the Office of the
President.
Labella, a lawyer, rejected the
City Ordinances (CO) 2445 and
2446 containing the city’s 2016
annual budget because the
number of councilors who
approved the measures did not
comply with the required number
of votes specified under Article
107, paragraph (g) of the
Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) of the Local
Government Code of 1991.
NEWS January 2016 – No. 01 • UK & Europe Edition
(PDAF and Presidential Pork Barrel) so are essential to the ensuing discourse”. P46B in 2014.
they can continue to ransack the treasury," (P.34, definition of terms, Belgica vs Unprogrammed Funds
Belgica said in a statement. Ochoa, GR.No.208566, Nov.19,2013) a. Support to infrastructure projects and
social programs.
He accused the DBM chief, who as Here's the rest of Belgica's rebuttal to P25B for 2016,
three-term congressman from Batanes was Abad's reply that he was abiding by the SC P20B for 2015 and 2014
said to have mastered the intricacies of ruling:
pork barrel, of setting up a "martial law
mechanism that instead of dissolving, "It [SC] unanimously declared the Automatic Appropriations fund
Sec.Abad has masterfully controlled to
dictate the entire budget, put on himself entire SYSTEM unconstitutional. a. Special Accounts in the General fund.
the power of congress over the purse and Nevertheless, the Supreme Court in its 25.9B for 2016,
control the utilization of the budget to decision did NOT say that LUMP SUM P20.2B in 2015 and
their benefit, robbing the entire Filipino FUNDS are PORK, but rather “LUMP
people of hard earned tax money." SUMS & DISCRETIONARY FUNDS P20.1B in 2014.
TOGETHER” as PORK BARREL FUNDS "Secretary Abad had repeatedly used
in public. To give truth and change a Belgica's attack came on the heels of a these kinds of Presidential Pork Barrel
chance." scathing indictment by the budget reform a. “the Court defines the Pork Barrel Funds even after the Supreme Court
group Social Watch Philippines, which System as the collective body of rules and declared it unconstitutional. The Special
Belgica added: "If he can prove me accused the DBM of packing the 2016 practices that govern the manner by which purpose funds, unprogrammed funds and
wrong then I will withdraw my candidacy, outlay with lump sums and discretionary lump-sum, discretionary funds, primarily automatic appropriations funds that are
keep quiet against this issue and face the funds that will allow for easy hijacking of intended for local projects, are utilized discretionary to the President as it can
consequences of my statements. But if I funds for 2016 partisan purposes. through the respective participation of the NOT be released without the signature of
prove him wrong, he must resign the post Legislative and Executive branches of the President. Thus, lump sums and
he has extremely abused for almost six The Supreme Court legal guidelines government, including its members. The discretionary to the President.
years, face the consequences of his action According to Belgica, "the Supreme
like a man and allow us to correct the Court in the Belgica Ruling in 2013 ruled Pork Barrel System involves two kinds of "The budgetary support to
mistakes he has created. We are appealing against the Pork Barrel SYSTEM. NOT lump-sum discretionary funds:” (P.35, government corporations under the
to him for law and order, for the truth for ONLY the PDAF, but, AMONG which is definition of terms, Belgica vs Ochoa, special purpose fund is a budget that does
the next generation. That they may enjoy the PDAF. The SC identified two Pork GR.No.208566, Nov.19,2013) not properly itemize which GOCC and
a better Philippines who will not have a Barrel funds: the Presidential Pork Barrel for what purpose it will be used. For one,
government who will live by the rule of and the legislative Pork Barrel PDAF. Our petition never assailed the calamity GOCC’s are government corporations
law and shall not rob them of their hard The Supreme Court said: and contingency fund as a Pork Barrel that is suppose to make money for
earned money through excessive taxes and a. “Before the Court proceeds to resolve funds. We recognizing the fact that the government. If it is making money, why
turn them into politicians Pork Barrel the substantive issues of these cases, it executive need mobility when calamity are they appropriating billions of money
funds." must first define the terms Pork Barrel comes. So a limited calamity and every year for these corporations?
System,‖ Congressional Pork Barrel,‖ contingency fund is out of the question as
Belgica began his "reply to Abad's and Presidential Pork Barrel‖ as they they are valid appropriations. "If it is not making money, then why
reply" by characterizing Abad's ability as not close it down? The same kind of
"mixing truth with lies." Abad "is The Supreme Court said in its decision vague, Pork Barrel or lump sum and
circumventing the Supreme Court's that national lump sum funds used for discretionary funds is used for Support to
decision against the Pork Barrel System local purposes are Pork Barrel Funds. The Infrastructure Projects and Social
SPF contains these kinds funds such as: Programs and Special Accounts in the
General fund. These are pork barrel
a. Allocation for local government units. funds of the President, improperly
P19.5B in 2014, P33.4B in 2015, P56.5B for itemized, without specific item and
2016. Clearly an election corruption and purpose that Sec.Abad through the
President will dangle to congress for
bribery funds of the President it dangles support for the campaign to escape
to Local Government officials to get their criminal liabilities for DAP and Pork
support. If the budget has these amounts Barrel, to buy votes, and to pay off the
prepared for local government, then why smartmatic-COMELEC syndicate for
give it to the President instead of directly to next year's presidential elections."
the Local government units. This is a Pork
Barrel of the President to get support from
the local government units.
The Supreme Court did not say that the Duterte pledges P1,000 to church
Special purpose fund is unconstitutional, each time he swears
but the items inside that fund being vague, MANILA - Davao City Mayor and
repeating allocations, being lump sum and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte
discretionary to the President is Pork post on his Facebook page on Friday
Barrel funds. The Supreme Court clearly that he would be willing to donate
explained the propriety and limits of funds P1,000 to caritas Davao each time he
utilization through itemization. Proper utters a cuss word.
lined-item budgeting MUST be one-item
for one-purpose. It cannot be one item for "I visited and talked with Archbishop
multiple purposes. As the SC said: Romulo Valles and Bishop George
Rimando, together with Monsignor Paul
a. “...what beckons constitutional Cuison and my Executive Assistant
infirmity are appropriations which merely Bong Go.
provide for a singular lump-sum amount "I was admonished and lectured on
to be tapped as a source of funding for Christian Values and in return, I told
multiple purposes” (p.48, Belgica vs. them that I would lessen my use of cuss
Cebu City Hall. FILE PHOTO Ochoa, GR.No.208566, Nov.19,2013). words.
Labella said the code provides that “any ordinance or resolution authorizing or "I am even regulating myself and will
directing the payment of money or creating liability, shall require the affirmative vote The items inside the Special purpose donate P1,000 to Caritas Davao every
of a majority of all sangguniang members for its passage.” funds, unprogrammed funds, and the time I would swear.
The 2016 annual budget was approved by the Cebu City Council in a 9-4 vote on Automatic appropriations fund are of these "I am also planning to visit the Vatican
Dec. 18. nature. Namely: soon. It was a good meeting and I would
But Labella said 10 votes were needed to pass the budget ordinance because the like to thank my friends in the Church
council has 18 members. Special Purpose Funds for their time." InterAksyon.com
Labella said there is an urgent need to tackle again the ordinances of the annual a. Budgetary Support to Government
budget for 2016, as required under Section 323 of the Local Government Code. Corporations
If the council fails to enact a budget ordinance 90 days from the beginning of the P125B for 2016,
fiscal year, the city will have a re-enacted budget for this year. P62B in 2015 and