CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A P49-million budget is too much for the trip of Pres. Aquino and his 63-man party to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum and even borders on being “criminal”, Central Luzon-based critics said yesterday.
“While Imelda Marcos has carved her niche as being Imeldific, Pres. Aquino seems to be evolving his own as Godfather of Junket Trips,” said Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) vice chairperson Salvador France in a statement.
He noted that last year, Aquino also brought with him a 60-man delegation to Laos during the 9th edition of Asean-Europe Meeting held in November.
Also last year in October, the President brought a 90-man delegation during his state visit to Australia and New Zealand.
The group said the President has yet to account for how taxpayers’ money were actually spent during these “large-entourage trips to Australia, New Zealand and Laos.”
“How can Mr. Aquino go on a junket trip, spend millions of taxpayers’ money for a European field trip while hundreds of thousands in calamity stricken areas in Southern Mindanao have yet to receive sufficient relief from the government. This is immoral,” said France.
“Why P49 million? Mr. Aquino is using people’s money to treat close friends and associates to a European field trip,” he said.
France said that for the President himself, a P1-million budget would be sufficient for him to attend state functions and official meetings during the five-day meeting of head of states and economic managers in the key Swiss city in Southern Europe.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. earlier said the President is expected to highlight in Davos the administration’s anti-corruption campaign to attract investors.
“The P49-million budget for 63 free riders in this European field trip under the pretext of state visit is high crime of corruption,” said France.
The President left for Davos with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Cabinet Secretary to the President Jose Rene Almendras and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricardo Carandang.
Pamalakaya said the P49 million covers the delegation’s chartered flight to Switzerland, accommodations, transportation, food and equipment, and telecommunications requirements, among others expenses.
