Press Release
August 15, 2009

PLANNED PURCHASE OF P1.2-B PRESIDENTIAL JET UNCONSCIONABLE
CHIZ ASKS PALACE NOT TO DELAY SUBMISSION
OF ELECTION-YEAR BUDGET

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday called on the Palace not to delay the submission of the proposed election-year P1.54-Trillion budget even as he denounced the administration's plan to buy a P1.2 billion executive jet.

"To buy a P1.2-B executive jet at this time is, without doubt, unconscionable and immoral. Only someone with a 'Le Cirque' mindset will think of doing this last two-minute purchase," the 39-year old lawmaker said.

Escudero said that planned purchase of the "factory new, twin-engine" jet was contained in an innocuous advertisement in one of the national dailies last Thursday.

Funding for the purchase was sourced from the P5.2-billion appropriations for the Office of the President under the 2008 budget, specifically the funds for the "repair/maintenance, purchase of air transportation equipment" totaling P1.568 billion.

He said there is still time for the Palace to scuttle the purchase as the pre-bid conference is still scheduled on August 27 in Malacanang.

"If the funds have been allocated, then it should be diverted to projects that will create jobs or provide food for the hungry," Escudero said.

He cautioned the Palace from making other "midnight" purchases of the same kind during the remainder of its term.

Escudero said the failure of the Palace to immediately submit the proposed P1.54 budget after the SONA only fuels concern that it really wants to make do with a re-enacted P1.4-Trillion budget. "A re-enacted budget will give the Palace the leeway to use these funds in aid of their 2010 election agenda," he said.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya has said the Palace will submit the proposed budget, which is P115-billion higher than this year's appropriations, on August 26.

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