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By Maricel V. Cruz, Reporter
Calling the hosting of the 12th Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Cebu City “lavish and
extravagant,” a group of militant lawmakers on Thursday called for
a full accounting of how much the government spent for the affair.
House Deputy Minority Leader Satur Ocampo,
Teodoro Casino and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna; Liza Maza of Gabriela
Women’s Party; and Crispin Beltran and Rafael Marinao of Anakpawis
said on Friday that they have filed a resolution demanding an
inquiry into the estimated P1.71 billion Malacañang supposedly
spent for the January 11 to 15 summit.
They said the display of extravagance insults
Filipinos living in grave poverty.
Ocampo said it is the right of all taxpayers,
especially their representatives in Congress, to know just how their
money was being spent.
“They also deserve to express disappointment
whenever these funds are used for lavish and extravagant
expenses,” Ocampo said.
Casino warned the amount could even rise without
the public knowing it unless the government comes up with a full
accounting.
“The budget will be used for the
rehabilitation of roads, beautification of the ceremonial route from
Cebu Mactan Airport to the official venue and residences of the
delegates and the demolition of shanties around the cities of Cebu,”
he said.
Virador was concerned that like other
“Imeldific” government projects, the components of the Asean
conference project might be overpriced.
Maza called for an investigation into “the
duplicitous measures carried out by the city government [of Cebu] in
their attempt to present a grand and attractive site,” including
the demolition of the homes of more than 1,500 urban-poor families.
The summit was originally scheduled for last
December but the organizers called off, citing the dangers from an
approaching typhoon.
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