Senator Leila de Lima questioned on Saturday, June 5, the move of the House of Representatives to include a P54.6-billion allocation for pension and gratuity fund of uniformed personnel in the proposed Bayanihan 3 law.
De Lima, chairperson of the Senate social justice committee, stressed that the Bayanihan 3 is supposed to serve as a "lifeline" stimulus package to help Filipinos ride out the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is reassuring to know that the most-needed wage subsidies, allowance for teachers and aid for the agri-fishery sector or ayuda is coming their way. Kahit papaano ay may maaasahang tulong ang ating mga kababayang patuloy na naghihirap dahil sa mga epekto ng pandemyang ito (At least people can expect assistance in the wake of the impacts of the pandemic),” the detained senator said in her dispatch.
“Ngunit nakakagulat na sa ₱401 bilyon pondong kalakip ng Bayanihan 3, mukhang may pabaong naisingit na wala naman sa mga orihinal na bersyong isinumite ng mga mambabatas sa Kongreso (But it's surprising that of the P401 billion appropriation of the Bayanihan 3, it looks there is again an insertion that was not part of the original version filed in Congress)," De Lima said.
"Bakit may ₱54.6 bilyong para sa pensyon ng militar at pulisya? Anong klaseng pakulo na naman ‘yan (What is this ₱54.6 billion for the pension of military and police? What kind of gimmick is this)?" she asked.
De Lima noted that the ₱54.6-billion allocation for the pension and gratuity of military and police was the second biggest appropriation in the version passed by the House of Representatives, next to the ₱216 billion fund for the distribution of the ₱2,000 emergency cash assistance for Filipinos.
Congressmen earlier explained that allocation of the pension fund was aimed at restoring the budget that was slashed under the 2020 budget.
"It is repulsively misplaced in a proposed legislative measure that is supposed to help us paddle through the waves of an ongoing pandemic," De Lima, however, said.
"Why now? And what good will this even do when the government knows it’s already cash-strapped enough as it is? This stealthy move is further proof of the Duterte government’s misplaced priorities," she added.
The House passed their "Bayanihan to Arise as One" bill last Tuesday, June 1.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said the upper chamber will scrutinize the ₱54.6-billion pension and gratuity fund for uniformed personnel.