![“Panimula pa lang naman po ito because they had a very limited period of time given to them by the President, [which was] 30 days,” Roque said Tuesday. “Magpapatuloy pa po ang imbestigasyon ng DOJ at ng Ombudsman.”/PN](https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/says-Palace-spokesman-Harry-Roque-696x464.jpg "Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. is glad to announce du")
MANILA – Senate can deliberate on the proposed general appropriations bill (GAB) or the 2021 national budget despite the House of Representatives not yet passing its version of the measure on third reading.
Citing a previous decision by the Supreme Court, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the senators can freely start the budget deliberations so as not to resort to a reenacted budget next year.
“Kailangan bang ipasa ng House ang budget sa third and final reading bago maaksyunan ng Senado? Hindi po, kailangan lang mauna ma-file ang bill sa Kamara. Pwede po nilang pagsimulan ang diskusyon,” Roque said in a virtual press conference Thursday.
“The gray area is if the Senate can proceed with plenary debates without receiving the House version of the budget bill,” he added. “Walang hadlang para magpatuloy ang deliberation ng Senado sa national budget bill.”
Roque furthered that if the Senate cannot finish tackling the proposed P4.5-trillion budget by Congress adjournment on Dec. 14, President Rodrigo Duterte can call for a special session.
“Mataas ang kumpyansa ng Palasyo na may sapat pang panahon na maipasa ang budget kaya wala pang dahilan para ito ay ma-delay,” Roque said. “Kung kailangan talaga, Palace can call for a special session after Congress adjourns on Dec. 14.”
Roque’s statement came after Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate should not be blamed for the looming reenacted budget next year as an aftermath of the House of Representatives’ decision to adjourn its session early.
“Do not be misled. The HOR has delayed the budget for a whole month. No one can ever blame the Senate for this delay. NEVER!” Sotto wrote said in a Twitter post Thursday.
The passage of the 2021 national budget in the Lower House on third reading was derailed after Cayetano and his allies moved to abruptly suspend the House’s session on Tuesday.
The move was an apparent tactic of Cayetano to refuse Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of House Speakership on Oct. 14 as part of the term-sharing agreement./PN
