
WHAT PORK BARREL?
THE House of Representatives has no confidential and intelligence funds.
This was stressed by House Secretary General Reginal Velasco in response to the allegation of former President Rodrigo Duterte that the Lower Chamber under Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has unlimited pork barrel.
Velasco shared to House media a document from the Commission on Audit (COA) to which it showed that the House has no disallowances, no notice of suspension and no notice of charge.
“As per latest COA report released only last October 2, the House of Representatives has no disallowances. No notice of suspension and no notice of charge. Ibig pong sabihin, pasado kami sa COA audit,” Velasco said.
“The House has no confidential and intelligence funds. All line items in our budget are subject to regular accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Laging bukas po ang aming libro sa Commission on Audit,” Velasco added.
The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez, is in agreement with former President Rodrigo Duterte that government expenditures should be transparent and fully auditable.
Duterte, in an interview, defended his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte on her proposed P500 million confidential fund which the House committee removed in the amendments of 2024 national budget.
The former President also accused of Romualdez of politicking when the Lower Chamber discussed by confidential fund of the OVP.
He said once Romualdez run for president in 2028, he will demand for auditing of the budget of the House of Representatives.
Critics of Romualdez are saying that the House of Representatives has P1.2 billion confidential and intelligence funds.