Salceda denies role in 2024 budget fund insertion

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- Former Albay Representative Joey Sarte Salceda has denied any involvement in the controversial fund insertion in the 2024 national budget, after retired senior Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio named him as the alleged architect of the measure.

Carpio, in a Facts First podcast hosted by Christian Esguera, claimed Salceda was the “main architect” of the fund insertion, saying: “The idea came from former Congressman Joey Salceda, who submitted it to the committee chaired by Zaldy Co at the time.”

Salceda, a former chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, issued a statement via social media clarifying that he had no hand in the 2024 budget fund insertion.

“I cannot make an insertion in the 2024 budget because I was not a member of the House Appropriations Committee, or the Bicameral Committee, during the 19th Congress,” Salceda said.

He explained that Carpio may be referring to House Bill No. 9513, which he filed in 2022 to allow a cash sweep of Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) with idle funds to fund 2023 unprogrammed allocations, not the 2024 budget.

The bill aimed to provide funds for the Public Health Emergency Allowance and the Health Facilities Support Fund, each valued around P52 billion.

“The bill was approved in the House but did not become law. Any connection between me and that idea ended there. I never filed a similar bill for the 2024 budget,” Salceda stressed.

He also clarified that his bill did not amend GOCC charters and left discretion to the Executive Branch regarding what constitutes “excess” funds.

Salceda is a close political ally of Ako Bicol Partylist lawmakers led by resigned Representative Elizaldy Co.

Former Guinobatan Mayor Christopher Flores, a long-time acquaintance, defended Salceda, saying: “Joey may lack moral fortitude at times, but he will not throw the people under the bus. He may not be perfect, but he does not have the brazen audacity to execute such a scheme.”

Flores suggested that other individuals may be responsible for the fund insertion, who remain unnamed in the ongoing discussion and investigation.

“One does not need brilliance like Joey Salceda’s to execute such a scheme; it only requires greed and shamelessness,” Flores added.