DON’T TOUCH PALACE ‘PORK’

THE House Committee on Appropriations yesterday rejected the inclusion of the Executive department’s P18.3-billion budget for unfilled positions in the special provision that would restore the P4.971-billion fund for the unfilled positions in the judiciary, Congress and other constitutional offices.

Administration critics have expressed concern Malacañang would use the P18.3 billion as its own pork barrel and realign the allocation for purposes other than filling vacant positions in the Executive department.