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Drilon nixes proposed budget cut for agencies under corruption probe

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday rejected a suggestion that Congress should shave the 2021 budget for agencies that are set to be investigated over allegations of corruption, saying even a &quot;reduced budget can still be plundered.&quot;ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap earlier said that lawmakers may move to &quot;reduce or remove the budget&quot; of an agency tagged in corruption schemes.&quot;Good media copy. But not the appropriate remedy,&quot; Drilon said in a text message to reporters.&quot;Even a reduced budget can still be plundered if handled by the same corrupt officials,&quot; he said.Drilon underscored that beneficiaries - not corrupt government officials - would suffer if Yap&#x27;s budget cut threat materializes.The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - two agencies that provide financial assistance to the public - are among the agencies that may be hit with Yap&#x27;s proposed budget cuts, Drilon said.&quot;Why will you punish PhilHealth, or SAP (Social Amelioration Program) beneficiaries, especially during this pandemic, for the acts of its officials?&quot; the senator said.&quot;Effective prosecution of corrupt officials, and strengthening the anti-graft laws, and not the reduction of the budget, are the proper and more effective remedy,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/04/20/laptops-worth-p100-m-philhealths-morales-repeatedly-approved-questionable-it-budget-official">&#x27;Laptops worth P100M&#x27;: PhilHealth&#x27;s Morales repeatedly approved questionable IT budget - official</a></li></ul>Yap&#x27;s comments came days after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that a &quot;mega&quot; task force would look into corruption allegations hounding several government agencies.The Department of Justice earlier said it would prioritize 5 agencies in the series of corruption investigations.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/28/20/doj-identifies-5-agencies-likely-to-face-corruption-probe">DOJ identifies 5 agencies likely to face corruption probe</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jw7PfP27rNI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday rejected a suggestion that Congress can reduce the 2021 budget of agencies that are set to be investigated over allegations corruption, saying even a "educed budget can still be plundered."

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday rejected a suggestion that Congress can reduce the 2021 budget of agencies that are set to be investigated over allegations corruption, saying even a "educed budget can still be plundered."

Drilon nixes proposed budget cut for agencies under corruption probe

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Drilon nixes proposed budget cut for agencies under corruption probe

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 30, 2020 01:25 PM PHT

|

Updated October 30, 2020 01:46 PM PHT

Read More:

Franklin Drilon

Eric Yap

corruption

2021 budget

budget cut

DSWD

PhilHealth

DOJ

Senate

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