ROXAS CALLS FOR PUBLIC VIGILANCE VS EXTRAVAGANT
GOV'T SPENDING
SAYS 2010 IS ARROYO GOV'T'S "LAST HURRAH"

Sen. Mar Roxas today urged the public to continue being vigilant against possible government binges on expenditures and borrowing in an election year deemed critical in the country's political history.

Roxas, who voted against the ratification of the 2010 national budget, said that this year is the Arroyo government's "last hurrah." He noted how government has splurged public money on unnecessary projects - such as poorly-constructed farm-to-market roads and multi-purpose halls - which he said were obviously implemented for partisan political purposes.

"Nakikita natin ang mga politiko, aba'y kung ano-anong mga projects ang ginagawa nila na hindi naman tama at para sa politika lang naman. Sayang lang ang pera ng taumbayan (We see how politicians spend on various projects not for the people's benefit but for political purposes. They're wasting the people's money)," he said.

He added: "Hawak pa rin ng gobyerno ang budget para sa 2010. Hindi ito puwedeng magamit para maitulak ang kandidatura ng mga manok nila, lalo nang di ito puwedeng mapakinabangan sa mga luho nila (The government still controls the budget for 2010. They should not be allowed to use this to benefit their candidates, more especially to use it for their own luxury."

Roxas said the public must be more vigilant in guarding against possible fund diversions during the election period, noting how Malacañang lackeys have perfected the scheme of illegally transferring funds to its campaign chests. He warned appropriations for debt service, estimated to at least P35 billion, that have been realigned to agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways, could possibly be re-channeled to fund the campaign of administration allies.

"Maging mapagmatyag tayong lahat. Hindi maaaring maulit ang nangyaring fertilizer fund scam noong 2004. Kami naman sa Partido Liberal ay patuloy na masigasig na magbabantay sa paggastos ng gobyerno sa pondo ng bayan (Let us all be vigilant. There should be no repeat of the fertilizer fund scam in 2004. On our part, we in the Liberal Party will continue to monitor government spending, even as we will be on the campaign trail)."