Transcript of Ambush Interview with Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

Q: Was it the right way to go about the Supreme Court ruling?

SPFMD: Yes. It is a joint resolution which will define what savings is all about. The decision of the SC was based on its interpretation of savings, which is based on the General Appropriations Act and the Administrative Code. It is a law, it is a policy enunciated by a law, and it is the prerogative of the Congress to review the law and make amendments to the law if policies are being misunderstood, or if the definition is unclear.

Q: How does Congress seek to define savings?

SPFMD: I do not know yet, because it was the president's idea. We will know the proposed definition from Malacanang.

Q: Is it a challenge to the SC ruling, since they already gave their definition of savings?

SPFMD: I emphasize that based on the law, for example, if someone files a case of libel against a reporter, and the court convicts the reporter, and then Congress decriminalizes libel, then that will mean the conviction will no longer be valid, because that conviction is a provision of the law.

SPFMD: Similarly, Court interpreted savings in the manner that they understood it, which may not be consistent with how Congress intended the term savings to be, and therefore, Congress has the prerogative to review and revise the definition of savings.

Q: Sir, sina Secretary Abad they said not the end of the year because that is not flexible enough for the executive

SPFMD: That's one of the points. When a project is abandoned, or there is a change in the priorities and the projects - for example, funds for a bridge - is abandoned; now, the appropriations for that project could be used to augment other items in the budget. We believe we do not have to wait for the end of the year, because by the end of the year, the budget authority would have lapsed and you have to go through bidding and all of that. The very strict and literal interpretation of term savings, to me, can be reviewed.

Q: May basis ba yung sinasabi ni dating Sec. Diokno na bakit pa kailangan ng supplemental budget, pwede namang isama sa proposed 2015 national budget?

SPFMD: It's a question of timing. The funds are there. What's wrong anyway with having a supplemental budget? It's the same, it's a law. We have passed a number of supplemental budgets including the supplemental budget to address the needs for funds of typhoon victims. Remembers that was passed in November of last year and the General Appropriations Act is December.