President Rodrigo Duterte has spoken: He does want the Road Board abolished.
On Friday night, the Chief Executive backed the Senate over the proposed abolition of the agency supervising billions of pesos in public funds, which he said was being the "milking cow" of corrupt government officials.
"I side with the Senate, and if it comes to a constitutional controversy, the Executive department will side with the Philippine Senate and its interpretation of the law that the process has been completed; that it has been sent to the Senate for approval and on time it was signed," he said in Pasay City at the change of command ceremonies of the Philippine Air Force.
"I had a talk with [former] President [and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal] Arroyo, and apparently there was a misunderstanding because all along I really wanted to abolish the road tax, and [House Majority Leader Rolando] Andaya was one of those who said that it should be maintained. No, nagkamali sila doon {they were mistaken]," the President added.
Duterte said he has wanted the Road Board abolished since assuming office in June 2016.
"I’ve always been wary about this office because it has been the milking cow of people who are corrupt in government," Duterte said, and noted its functions should be returned to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
"Ever since, I’ve really questioned the existence of this office. It’s nothing but a depository of money and for corruption," he added.
The Road Board oversees funds collected from the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) – which now stands at P45 billion — solely for road maintenance and drainage improvement, the installation of traffic lights and road safety devices, and monitoring air pollution.
The Commission on Audit, however, has flagged irregularities, unauthorized and unnecessary expenses in the use of MVUC funds.
The Palace said congressmen might have misinterpreted what Duterte said.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said it was Duterte’s decision to abolish the Road Board “since Day One.”
‘Since Day One, I have been against this road user’s tax because it's just being used as a cash cow of corrupt politicians'," Panelo quoted Duterte as saying.
Meanwhile, Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo declined to comment that he was among the 41 lawmakers who asked for Road Board funds for several infrastructure projects in 2017 and 2018.
"Thanks. But I won't comment," he told the Manila Standard in a text message.
Cibac party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna said "we are still collating documents. As of now, I don't remember if I have referred or asked. I cannot comment," he told the Manila Standard.
On the other hand, LPGMA party-list Arnel Ty said nothing has been released yet for each representative that has applied.
“We have been doing that even before. We just propose and if they [Road Board] entertain [our requests], they endorse them to the [proposed] General Appropriations Act,” he said.
Manila Standard tried to reach other lawmakers, such as PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles and Surigao del Norte Robert Ace Barbers, to comment on their requests, but received no responses from them.
The Palace, meanwhile, said the President might sign the bill abolishing the Road Board even without Arroyo’s signature, saying that lawmakers would have to court to challenge Duterte’s move to get rid of the corruption-laden agency.
Panelo said Malacañang has already received a copy of the bill signed by the Senate President, but not the Speaker.
He said there could be a court battle if the Senate transmits the bill to the President even without Arroyo’s signature.
Andaya previously said that Congress could not transmit an enrolled copy of the bill because it could not contain Arroyo's signature, but Malacañang viewed the Speaker's signature as only "ministerial."
To resolve the legal question, Panelo said that "somebody will have to go to the courts."
“Maybe if the President really wants to end this, he will sign it and then they will go to the Court. Those from the House, they may question it," he said.
Panelo agreed with Senate President Vicente Sotto III that the House could no longer recall the measure since it was already adopted and passed by the Senate.
Both the Senate and the House passed a bill abolishing the Road Board during the speakership of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.
However, three months after Arroyo assumed leadership following the ouster of Alvarez, the lower chamber adopted a bill voiding the previous House Bill No. 7436's approval on third reading.
The Palace has said Duterte wants to abolish the Road Board amid allegations that some lawmakers want to use the road user’s tax for the 2019 elections.
The President himself has said he wants the Road Board abolished.
“I will abolish one to three agencies. That Road Board, they have to go," Duterte said at the time.
READ: No Road Board abolition—Andaya
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