LP solon says his signature in SC petition vs P449.5-B unprogrammed funds was unauthorized
At A Glance
- Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr.'s "signing" of the petition that sought to junk the additional P449.5-billion unprogrammed funds in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was allegedly unauthorized.
Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr.'s "signing" of the petition that sought to junk the additional P449.5-billion unprogrammed funds in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was allegedly unauthorized.
This was learned from Bordado's press statement Wednesday, Jan. 17, wherein he called on his House colleagues to safeguard the Constitution in relation to the current national budget.
Earlier, the Liberal Party (LP) stalwart was named as one of the signatories of the petition for a writ of preliminary injunction filed before the Supreme Court (SC).
Bordado said while he was still reviewing the petition, a senior staff sent his e-signature to the Office of Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman without his approval.
This lead the latter to presume Bordado fully supported the petition. Lagman is the LP president.
"I am definitely for upholding the Constitution, and I ask my fellow representatives to protect our Constitution at all times," undescored Bordado.
However, he said that he was still reviewing the petition and wanted to raise key points, particularly on safeguarding the unprogrammed funds to ensure that they benefit economic growth and do not derail the momentum of post-Covid recovery programs.
"We should let the [SC] decide whether or not it is within the bounds of the Constitution," Bordado stated.
He added that unprogrammed funds might be necessary to sustain the momentum of the country’s economic activities.
According to the East Asian Forum, the Philippine economy grew by 5.7 percent in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reported that the Philippine economy had rebounded strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic despite disrupted supply chains, inflation pressures, and dampened tourism revenues.
Bordado pointed out examples, such as the revival of the Philippine National Railway South Long-Haul (PNR Bicol) railway project, crucial for economic growth in the Bicol region, as a project that can be covered by the unprogrammed funds.