BY DENNIS GADIL
A SENATE investigation on the allegations of
Sen. Panfilo Lacson of a double budget funding entry on the C-5
extension project opens today but it would not touch on the
properties of Senate President Manuel Villar, which could have
benefited from the project.
"Hindi na sa amin ‘yun. They should file a
case, bring it to the court, or dapat sa ethics," said Sen. Juan
Ponce Enrile, finance committee chair.
Enrile said allegations of conflict of
interest against Villar are not within the mandate of his
committee.
He said his panel will not summon Villar.
"Kung gusto niyang pumunta, that’s his call.
I will take his statement based on his oath as senator," he
said.
Enrile said he would call the secretaries of
the budget and of the public works and highways departments to
shed light on the double entry controversy.
"The DPWH implements; the DBM disburses the
amount. They should know about this," he said.
He said the Senate panel also wants to know
if the first P200 million had indeed been disbursed for the road
project.
Enrile said he is assuming full
responsibility if indeed it is found during the investigation
that he as Senate finance chair was remiss in his duties in the
double entry issue.
Lacson, in a privilege speech, bared the
double entry in the 2008 budget, which has two separate fundings
for a single road extension project for the same amount for a
total of P400 million.
The C-5 road extension project seeks to
connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to C-5 road and up to
Coastal Road.
Villar has already admitted pushing for the
additional P200 million but stressed it was only a
recommendation.
Enrile has said it was Villar who authored
the amendment.
Lacson has said that the second P200 million appropriation
was meant to line the pockets of some politicians.
