Cayetano denies allies getting preferential budget funds

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has refuted claims that his allies in the House of Representatives are receiving preferential treatment in the allocation of infrastructure funds within the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.

Cayetano stated that seven out of the ten districts with the largest allocations from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are represented by legislators who are not closely associated with him.

He specifically addressed an accusation, calling it "completely false" during a Facebook Live session, that 60% of Metro Manila's budget was allocated to Taguig.

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, Cayetano's rival in the speakership, had alleged that Cayetano was holding budget deliberations to obtain funds for his allies.

Velasco questioned whether the budget was for the country or for Cayetano's allies, and if it was a meaningful budget amid the pandemic or a large budget for Cayetano's group.