Duterte to Congress: Solve budget problem

‘Or else I will do it for you’

MANILA, Philippines — As bickering over the speakership threatens the passage of next year’s P4.506-trillion outlay on time, President Duterte exhorted lawmakers in a public address last night to solve the problem among themselves or “I’ll do it for you.”

The President stressed that he himself would work for the approval of the proposed national expenditure for next year even as he also asked the contending parties in the speakership row Speaker Alan Peter Cayateno and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to stop their bickering and buckle down to work to ensure the timely passage of the budget measure.

The President delivered his public address last night from the Malago Clubhouse within Malacañang grounds.

“If you do not solve the problem, then I will solve the problem for you. Mamili kayo (You choose), either we have the positive development where the people will be satisfied, our masters,” he said.

“Either you resolve the issue in your impasse and pass the budget legally or constitutionally. Pag hindi ninyo ginawa, ako ang gagawa para sa inyo (If you don’t do it, I will do it for you),” he said. Hindi ako nananakot, wala akong ambisyon manakot (I’m not threatening, I have no ambition to threaten)” the President said. “Wala akong ambisyon tatagal sa puwesto na **** puro problema (I have no ambition to stay long in a position that’s full of problems).”

“I would like to remind everyone this is not a GMA (former president Gloria Arroyo) budget, this is not a PNoy (former president Benigno Aquino III) budget, this is a Rody Duterte budget,” the President said. “I’m no lame duck president,” he declared.

Before his televised address, which started at 7 p.m., the President met with officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to tell them he might need their help in making sure that government would not operate on a reenacted budget next year. Details of the meeting were not immediately available, but it was said that he told military and police officials that he regretted picking Cayetano over former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as his running mate in 2016.

Duterte pointed out that the 2021 budget should not be held hostage by anyone as the country is still embroiled in a crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some quarters argued the problem could have been avoided had the President been clear about his choice for Speaker.

“We always forget that there is higher, maneuvering in Congress because everybody wants to be Speaker,” Duterte said.

Addressing Cayetano and Velasco, Duterte said they should not drag him in their problem, adding that it would eventually reflect badly on his leadership.

He said the people won’t bother to know who has caused the problem besetting the nation, but would only conclude that it’s the administration.

“My appeal is – thresh out the problem and think of the Filipinos, who are confined or need medicines or the Filipinos who might die at this hour,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Huwag niyo naman sobrahan ang laro sa Congress, na ang budget mismo ang ilagay sa alanganin (Stop playing your games in Congress, it’s the budget that’s being imperiled),” he added. Duterte said he is not giving any timeline for lawmakers to resolve the impasse, to give them some leeway to address the “derailment of government service.”

“I will not apologize for saying this, because we are all of the same dream… by itself and alone, it is an honor, a dream for any Filipino to serve this country,” he added.

“We will see in the next few days if there is something we can hope for, if none, then I will do my thing,” the President said.

Duterte reiterated there is a need to pass the budget on time to ensure that the people will be provided with better services particularly, the COVID-19 related projects.

“Thank you for listening to me and giving me your understanding but I am not apologizing for everything,” he said.

Cayetano moved on Oct. 6 for the second reading approval of the 2021 budget and the suspension of session until Nov. 16.

May call for special session

Hours before the President’s address, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Chief Executive may call for a special session during the Christmas break on Dec. 14.

“If it’s really necessary, there is the Dec. 14 Congress adjournment for Christmas. If it’s really necessary – after the 14th, a special session will be called. There’s no prejudice,” Roque said.

He also downplayed yesterday the assertion of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the setback in the budget deliberations – caused largely by the speakership war – would result in a reenacted budget for 2021.

“This is a very important budget since it considered our response to COVID-19. The specific responses of the government is built in the 4.5 trillion budget—such as medical assistance to indigents, funds for new hospital, funds for PPEs and funds to procure the vaccines,” Roque said.

“It’s a very important budget. It’s the first budget where COVID (response) is considered. While we have Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2, the entire stimulus package is provided under the 2021 proposed national budget,” he added.

He shrugged off Lacson’s statemenr that the 2021 budget is “as good as reenacted” after the House of Representatives failed to properly transmit the appropriations bill to the Senate after the abrupt suspension of session.

At a press briefing yesterday, Roque tried to parry criticisms of Cayetano’s alleged maneuvering at the House just to keep himself in power.

Pressed for President Duterte’s reaction to latest developments in the House, Roque said the Chief Executive – being a former lawmaker himself – was used to intrigues and maneuverings.

“So he’s firmly convinced that it’s an internal matter in House of Representatives,” he said.

Roque also cited legal precedence in insisting that the Senate can pursue its own budget deliberations. Based on Congress’ calendar, session ends on Oct. 14, and resumes on Nov. 16.

“I think the budget will not be delayed after the House of Representatives adjourned the session,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III lamented that the Filipino people are the “collateral damage” in possible delay in the passage of the budget caused by the House leadership squabble.

Sotto said House members should do their jobs and pass the proposed 2021 national budget focused on addressing the pandemic.

“The Filipino people are collateral damage. They (House) should not involve us (Senate). Pure politics, do the people want that?” asked Sotto in a radio interview.

“Do not involve us in your political warfare. Do not involve the people. Let us do our job,” he added. — Cecille Suerte Felipe