Solon: Bicam inserted ‘excessive’ amount in 2024 budget for conduct of Cha-Cha

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — A lawmaker on Tuesday said the bicameral conference committee increased the allocation for the “Conduct and supervision of elections, referenda, recall votes and plebiscites” under the 2024 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“The charter change rampage has a surfeit of funds,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement.

He said that under the 2024 budget, ₱14 billion was allocated for the ‘Conduct and supervision of elections, referenda, recall votes and plebiscites.” Of this amount ₱12 billion “was inserted by the bicameral conference committee under the budget of the Commission of Elections.”

Lagman noted this was a surge from only ₱2 billion last year and was even bigger than the annual budget for various departments, like the Migrant Workers (₱9 billion), Trade (₱8 billion), and Tourism (₱3 billion).

Earlier, the lawmaker claimed that Ako Bicol coordinators on Jan. 5 released funds for a ₱100/voter campaign to change the charter via people’s initiative. This is to support a new Constitutional provision that would allow the House and Senate to vote jointly, instead of separately, in amending the Constitution.

Such change would give the 315-member House the upper hand over the 24-member Senate, which has resisted previous attempts to amend the charter.

RELATED:Imee Marcos: ₱20 million offered per district to buy votes for Cha-Cha

Lagman showed documents that were allegedly distributed to mayors to gather the names of petitioners.

READ: Criminal rap vs. those involved in alleged vote buying for Cha-Cha possible — lawmaker

Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., Party List Representative Raul Angelo Bongalon and Polangui, Albay Mayor Raymond Adrian Salceda have denied the allegation.

House budget chairman claps back

House Appropriations Committee chairman and Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co clapped back at Lagman, labeling as false his claim that ₱12 billion was added to the Comelec’s budget to finance Charter change.

“Comelec Chairman George Garcia personally appealed during the budget hearing in Congress to restore their budget,” Co said in a statement issued late Tuesday afternoon.

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