By Hannah Torregoza
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara on Thursday downplayed allegations raised by House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. that they, too, benefitted from proceeds of the Road Board.
Andaya showed House reporters a document released by Road Board head Chito Clavano that the two senators were among the lawmakers listed with Road Board-approved projects.
House Majority Floor Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando “Nonoy” Andaya Jr. (FILE / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Drilon and Angara both support moves to abolish the agency which majority of senators agree has become one of the most corrupt agencies in the country.
"I recall that sometime in 2014-2015, during the term of President (Benigno) Aquino (III), I endorsed the request of then DPWH Region 6 Dir. Ed Tayao for a P16-million allocation from the Road Board to fund the lighting of Sen. Benigno Aquino Ave., a national road being built in Iloilo City at that time," Drilon told reporters when sought for comment on the issue.
"The request was made to the Road Board only because the lighting of national roads could only be sourced from the Road Users Tax, not from the GAA (General Appropriations Act)," he said.
"No action was taken by the Road Board. Up to now, the road lighting project has not been implemented. No fund has been released," Drilon added.
Based on the document, Angara and his aunt Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo also requested P9 million and P7 million for the installation of guardrails along Castañeda-Ma. Aurora-San Luis Road and Baler-Casiguran road, respectively, from the Road Board.
Angara and Angara-Castillo also requested P70 million for the asphalt overlay project of Baler-Casiguran Road with reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings.
But Angara said any request they submitted were made before the President and Congress agreed to abolish the agency.
"We voted with the rest of the Senate for the Boards abolition. Any requests for projects were made before the President and Congress worked for abolition," Angara said.
Drilon also thumbed down Andaya's claim President Duterte cannot legally abolish the corruption-plagued Road Board even with the cooperation of the Senate, especially without the counterpart copy signed by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"Signing of the printed copy merely signifies that legislative process was followed and completed," Drilon said.
"Signing becomes mandatory once the bill completes the legislative process, as shown by the official records. Otherwise, the Senate President or the Speaker will have a veto power over valid acts of the chambers they respectively lead, which is not allowed in the Constitution," he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that even if Andaya's claim is valid, it would still mean the President supports its abolition if he orders the Road Board not to release any money.
"He might be right but if the executive does not release their funds it amounts to d same thing," Sotto said.
House Majority Floor Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando “Nonoy” Andaya Jr. (FILE / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Drilon and Angara both support moves to abolish the agency which majority of senators agree has become one of the most corrupt agencies in the country.
"I recall that sometime in 2014-2015, during the term of President (Benigno) Aquino (III), I endorsed the request of then DPWH Region 6 Dir. Ed Tayao for a P16-million allocation from the Road Board to fund the lighting of Sen. Benigno Aquino Ave., a national road being built in Iloilo City at that time," Drilon told reporters when sought for comment on the issue.
"The request was made to the Road Board only because the lighting of national roads could only be sourced from the Road Users Tax, not from the GAA (General Appropriations Act)," he said.
"No action was taken by the Road Board. Up to now, the road lighting project has not been implemented. No fund has been released," Drilon added.
Based on the document, Angara and his aunt Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo also requested P9 million and P7 million for the installation of guardrails along Castañeda-Ma. Aurora-San Luis Road and Baler-Casiguran road, respectively, from the Road Board.
Angara and Angara-Castillo also requested P70 million for the asphalt overlay project of Baler-Casiguran Road with reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings.
But Angara said any request they submitted were made before the President and Congress agreed to abolish the agency.
"We voted with the rest of the Senate for the Boards abolition. Any requests for projects were made before the President and Congress worked for abolition," Angara said.
Drilon also thumbed down Andaya's claim President Duterte cannot legally abolish the corruption-plagued Road Board even with the cooperation of the Senate, especially without the counterpart copy signed by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"Signing of the printed copy merely signifies that legislative process was followed and completed," Drilon said.
"Signing becomes mandatory once the bill completes the legislative process, as shown by the official records. Otherwise, the Senate President or the Speaker will have a veto power over valid acts of the chambers they respectively lead, which is not allowed in the Constitution," he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that even if Andaya's claim is valid, it would still mean the President supports its abolition if he orders the Road Board not to release any money.
"He might be right but if the executive does not release their funds it amounts to d same thing," Sotto said.