Villar: Nothing wrong with P200M insertion for one flyover

abs-cbnNEWS.com – Senate President Manny Villar said Tuesday he is not angry with Senator Panfilo Lacson despite being accused of possible corruption in connection with the alleged double funding for the C-5 road project.

But Villar said he is not happy with the insinuations raised by Lacson and he insisted he did not benefit in the road project.

“Hindi ko naman dinedeny kasi yung pinipilit ni Lacson na dinedeny ko na insertion or what. I’m just saying hindi ako kasama sa budget process, hindi ako kasama sa bicameral conference, hindi ako kasama sa paggawa ng dokumento,” he said.

Villar added he did not accept the P94 million being paid by the government for his property, and says if the money is still with the Toll Regulatory Board he would like to donate it as additional funds to help overseas Filipino workers.

“If the offer is still there – dati kasi inoffer yan tinaggihan ko e… pero kung andyan pa ang offer na yan, sinasabi ko ngayon din na idodonate ko nalang yan sa pagpapauwi ng OFWs,” he said.

He asserted Lacson was wrong in saying the budget for the C-5 road project and the Carlos P. Garcia Avenue are one and the same.

The senate president explained P200 million would go to a flyover in Sucat and another P200 million will go to a flyover connecting Quirino Avenue and Coastal Road.

“Walang dalawang budget para dito sa dalawang kalye, dalawang proyekto ito, dalawang flyover yung isa, kumokonekta sa sucat road, at yung isa ay magkokonekta sa coastal road…dalawang flyover ang pinaguusapan natin,” Villar said.

Villar also said Lacson should review the budget process.

“Sana tingnan muna ni Ping kung ano yung budget process,” he added.

‘Narrow trail’ led to Villar, says Lacson

On Monday’s session at the Senate Lacson detailed more insertions in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2008 aside from the P200-million double appropriation for the C-5 extension road project of Villar in Parañaque City.

“Mr. President, if you are telling us to bring it on, just like a confident poker player with winning cards would say, and now I say to you, ‘All in’,” Lacson said in a privilege speech.

First, Lacson pointed out a P200 million budget allocation for the C-5 road extension project in Paranaque. He then pointed out another P200 million budget allocation for the Carlos P. Garcia avenue, which refers to the same stretch of road.

Lacson had been questioning Senate President Manny Villar’s role in the project and his possible involvement in the double insertion.

Senate Finance Commmittee Chair Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile confirmed Monday it was Villar who inserted the second P200 million allocation in the C-5 road extension project in the 2008 GAA, but he said it was “additional funding” for the project and not a separate allocation.

“From the record, this P200 million for C-5 [road extension project] was submitted as an amendment by the Senate president. Now my understanding was that this P200 million submitted by the Senate president was in addition to the P200 million included in the national expenditure program submitted by the President,” Enrile said.

Villar’s supporters have said Lacson’s accusations are borne out of political rivalry for the 2010 presidential elections, but Lacson said in his speech that his expose is not in any way connected to the race for the presidency.

“I simply followed the narrow trail and it led me to you, Mr. Senate President. No political motive whatsoever. Walang kinalaman sa pagtakbo mo sa 2010 nor with your Senate presidency,” he said.

“What is clear and important here is the fact that there is indeed a double entry in this year’s budget of P200 million each for the same stretch of road,” Lacson added.

Other irregularities

Lacson went on to point out more irregularities in the 2008 GAA, and he also questioned the budget appropriation for another road project, the rehabilitation of the Aguinaldo Bridge in Cavite. Lacson said records show that the bridge had double funding totaling P100 million.

Lacson also said there were two versions of the 2008 budget where several government projects and lump sum appropriations also appear to have been given double funding.

“Hindi ko minamasama [ang mga insertions]… subalit kung ito ay gagawin upang mapabopran ang iilan at madagdagan ang pagkakakitaaang proyekyo. Ito ang dapat tutulan,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong with insertions… What is abominable is the malicious double entries of P200 million and possibly P50 million using different names for identical projects,” he added.

Lacson ended his privilege speech with two main questions on the double appropriation issue: the identity of the lawmaker who initiated the controversial insertion in the 2008 GAA, and that who among the senators have “business and financial interests” in the project. With reports from Karen Davila and Lynda Jumilla, ABS-CBN News

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