MANILA, Philippines — The proposed P3.7-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2019 may be transmitted to Malacañang early next week for President Duterte’s signature, a leader of Congress said.
A senior member of the bicameral conference committee on the GAB yesterday said the Senate and the House of Representatives aim to submit the proposed national budget on March 10 or 11.
The voluminous measure is reportedly still being printed. Since the GAB originated from the House, it will be the chamber that transmits the same to Malacañang.
The Senate and the House ratified the proposed budget last Feb. 8 after weeks of acrimonious exchanges between the two chambers over the alleged inclusion of pork provisions in the measure.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson last week alleged that last-minute insertions and realignments were being made by some members of the House, apparently causing delays in the transmittal of the GAB to Duterte’s desk.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said if the allegations were true, the congressmen concerned are liable for falsification of legislative documents, which is a criminal offense.
“If true, this is falsification of legislative documents, a criminal offense punishable under Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code, by imprisonment of four years to six years and a fine of P1.2 million,” Drilon told reporters.
Lacson said it was suspicious that the GAB has yet to be sent to Malacañang despite its ratification last month.
“I have it on good information that the House leadership is still waiting for several congressmen to finalize the submission of their individual projects. This is not to mention that insertions and realignments were made even after the bicameral report ratification,” the senator said in a statement last week.
He said the last-minute amendments to the GAB technically do not constitute post-legislation enactment – barred by the Supreme Court (SC) in a 2013 ruling – since Duterte has not yet signed the budget measure.
He, however, warned the insertions were a clear abuse of discretion, especially if done without the concurrence of the Senate, and “an utter disregard” of the SC decision, and even a violation of the Constitution.