Bongbong: DBM should answer ‘pork’ anomalies

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should answer reports on alleged anomalies in the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of lawmakers.

Marcos, who previously denied having any dealings with businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles or the JLN Group of Companies, echoed the statement of Sen. Franklin Drilon about the process of appropriating the PDAF and the implementation of projects bankrolled by the fund.

“The disbursement of PDAF funds as well as the implementation of PDAF-funded projects is a function and responsibility of the DBM and the implementing government agencies,” Marcos said in a statement.

“A senator’s role in this process is merely to identify the projects to be funded, the amount allocated to these projects as well as the beneficiary LGUs,” he added.

Marcos said that his office receives an average of 300 requests a month to fund projects from various local government  units (LGUs).                  

“From these requests, I generally choose which projects to fund based on my legislative agenda. The projects to be funded, the amounts allocated to these as well as the beneficiary LGUs are then compiled into a list which is submitted to the DBM for review and endorsement to the relevant government agencies for implementation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MOST law firm confirmed Napoles’ statement that the firm is not her lawyer. The firm said it was limited to collaborating with Napoles’ lawyer, Alfredo Villamor, in the preliminary investigation of a kidnapping case filed against her. The kidnapping case has been dismissed.