Gauge SAROs on the basis of implementation Belmonte

In answer to queries on about 800 Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs)

allegedly received by legislators, Speaer !eliciano "elmonte #r$ said today t%at, &'%e
number o( SAROs is not as important as t%eir total and w%et%er t%ese (unds were used
wisely and legally$)
'%e Speaer said t%at many congressmen tend to &brea up w%atever t%ey get into
many smaller pro*ects to spread around t%eir districts,) wit% t%e intent o( a((ording more
services and bene(its to a larger number o( t%eir constituents$
&I am aware o( many +embers w%o %ave pro*ects actually being implemented and
currently bene(iting t%eir districts,) "elmonte added$
'%e Speaer stressed t%at %e is more t%an willing to release t%e list o( SARO
bene(iciaries among ,ouse +embers once it becomes available$
&-e must not always *ump to conclusions and dub somet%ing as negative or ill.
intentioned wit%out t%e (acts,) t%e Speaer said$ &I %ave always ased my colleagues in
t%e ,ouse to account (or t%eir pro*ects and t%e (unding a((orded t%em (or t%ese$ /ac% o( us
is responsible to our constituents and to t%e !ilipino people and s%ould be open to scrutiny
in terms o( w%ere t%ese public (unds are utili0ed$)
'%e Speaer also said t%at t%ese SAROs were released to lawmaers in support o(
t%eir constituencies and (ollowing w%at was t%en a regular process in t%e release o( (unds
by t%e 1"+ prior to t%e Supreme 2ourt declaring t%e 1A3 unconstitutional$
"elmonte also e4pressed con(idence none o( t%ese SAROs ended up wit% #anet
5im.6apoles or ot%er questionable 67Os$ (80) mrs
NR # 3534C
JULY 21, 2014