A leader of the House of Representatives on Wednesday dared his fellow legislators to unmask a person whom he described as “ligaw at halang ang kaluluwa,” who was allegedly working to withhold the release of congressional projects under the 2020 national budget.
In a privilege speech, Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, a former House majority leader, said his source, whom he referred to as a “butterfly,” whispered to him about the alleged plan to deprive congressional districts of the needed projects to propel economic developments in the countryside.
“Last Monday, while I was meditating at the garden of the Lower Chamber, a butterfly landed on my shoulder and whispered that a wayward soul is trying to stop the allocation of funds for the congressmen,” Castro told lawmakers at the plenary session Wednesday without naming names.
“According to this butterfly, the wayward soul is also planning to stop the implementation of projects that have been lined up,’’ Castro said, adding that the House of Representatives would identify the ‘‘ligaw na kaluluwa’’ soon.
“Mister Speaker, I do not know why there are parties who are trying to stop the allocation of the members of the Lower House because such is not only against the congressmen but more so against on the Filipino people,’’ Castro said.
Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson praised the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Budget department to withhold the release of some PP80 billion in congressional realignments under the 2020 national budget.
Lacson said the withheld realignments were made by the congressmen who had the “unmitigated gall” to funnel funds from the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” flagship program to their districts’ “pet projects.”
But Castro said the move of “ligaw na kaluluwa” may affect the delivery of important services in the countryside, prompting the members of the House of Representatives to expose the motive and identity of their critic.
“Blocking of the funds will frustrate the wishes of the people who are looking forward to the completion of projects that will result in the progress of their villages, lives and the whole country as a whole, Castro said.
“Upon entering this assembly, this butterfly also whispered to me that our colleges in the session hall are talking about the plan to unmask the wayward soul because they are rebelling and are very angry.”