Poe says she is against call to scrap PCOO budget

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe on Tuesday expressed her opposition to the proposal to remove the budget allocation for the Presidential Communications Operations Office despite her concerns about the agency’s request for an increased appropriation in 2019.

“Mayroon din naman talagang tapat sa kanilang tungkulin [na nagtatrabaho diyan] at hindi din naman dapat i-zero budget,” Poe said.

She was reacting to the call of Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan party-list) to scrap the budget of PCOO amid the furor on the controversial video on federalism by Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and her blogger co-host.

“If this is where our taxes go, perhaps it’s time to remove its budget and use it for what our people truly need,” Villarin said.

READ: 'Federalism' video prompts calls to slash PCOO budget, fire Mocha

But Poe raised questions on the proposal of PCOO to increase its 2019 budget to P1.41 billion from 1.38 billion in 2018.

“Pero sa tingin ko naman, maluho rin naman na isipin natin na uunahan pa natin ang ibang ahensiya na direktang nakakatulong at uunahin natin ang isang ahensiya na hindi naman sikmura ang tinututukan,” she said.

While she said she understands the importance of communication, Poe asked the PCOO to justify the proposed hike in its budget.

“Sa tingin ko sa ngayon kailangan talaga nilang patunayan na kailangan nila iyan dahil para sa amin at lalung lalo na sa akin, importante na mabigyan ng budget ang pagkain, kalusugan at edukasyon kaso ‘yun ang mga pinuputulan ng budget, kaya nakapagtataka,” Poe said.

The latest controversy of Uson did not sit well with senators, with lawmakers calling it “downright vulgar” and “disturbing.”