Poe denies role in small committee budget insertions

MANILA, Philippines — All senators in the 19th Congress had submitted amendments or insertions in the proposed national budget, according to former senator Grace Poe.

Appearing yesterday before the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), the former chair of the Senate finance panel maintained that both houses of Congress ratified the amendments through the bicameral conference committee.

Poe denied joining a small committee where the alleged anomalous insertions were made.

“As to the existence of a small committee, I’m not really privy to that. I did not participate in a small committee or closed-door meetings with my counterpart in the House,” she said, referring to Rep. Zaldy Co, former House appropriations committee chair.

“As far as the Senate’s amendments are concerned, it was presented and coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management also. They were aware of it because we wanted to make sure that this was possible in terms of the categories that were allowable to amend,” Poe said.

Aside from Poe, Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada also appeared before the ICI, faced with corruption allegations.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco also attended the ICI inquiry.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, co-convenors of the Mayors for Good Governance, have signed an agreement with the ICI to assist the body in probing anomalous infrastructure projects nationwide in the past 10 years.

The ICI also signed pacts with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

PNP aids probe

A top-level task group that will help investigate ghost and substandard infrastructure projects will be formed by the PNP.

The special task group will validate flood control projects following Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s request.

“We will provide personnel as necessary to assist in ensuring transparency, integrity and security during the validation process,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said. — Emmanuel Tupas, Louella Desiderio