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NI ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
“WAS Congressman (Edcel) Lagman sleeping on the job that he missed it?,” patutsada ni Ako Bicol partylist congressman Zaldy Co bunsod ng di umano’y fake news hinggil sa P12-billion budget allocation para sa Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Ayon kay Co, na tumatayong chairman ng House Committee on Appropriations, isang malaking kasinungalingan ang pahayag ni Lagman na nagsabing ang idinagdag na P12-bilyong alokasyon para sa Comelec sa ilalim ng 2024 national budget ay para sa pagdaraos ng halalan na may kinalaman sa isinusulong na charter change (ChaCha).
“The P12 billion added to Comelec’s P2-billion budget was made upon the request of the poll body whose proposed P19.4-billion budget in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) was slashed by P17.4-billion by the Department of Budget and Management before submission to Congress,” pahayag ni Co.
“Comelec Chairman George Garcia personally appealed during the budget hearing in Congress to restore their budget. Congressman [Joseph Steven] Caraps Paduano, who presided over that meeting, attests that such request was approved by the committee and reflected in the minutes. Was Congressman Lagman sleeping on the job that he missed it?,” dugtong pa ng mambabatas.
Ani Co, P14 billion lamang mula sa kabuuang P19.4 billion na unang hiniling na Comelec ang naaprubahan kung saan ang balanse na P5.4-billion ay isinama sa unprogrammed funds.
“Laking pasasalamat pa nga ng Comelec and Chairman George Garcia to the Bicam team for accommodating their request. Maski sila pa ang tanungin nyo,” hirit pa ng Bicolano lawmaker.
Para kay Co, nakakadismaya at malisyoso ang paratang ni Lagman na mayroong iregularidad sa pagdaragdag ng Bicam ng P12 billion sa Comelec budget partikular nang ipinangalandakan ng huli na ito ay para magamit sa Cha-Cha.
“This is another one of his [Lagman’s] wild and irresponsible accusations,” tahasang sabi pa ng ranking House official, kasabay ng hamon kay Lagman na maglabas ng ebidensyang nag-uugnay sa ipinukol na alegasyon sa pagsusulong ng amyenda sa 1987 Constitution.
