Lawmakers ‘can’t hold’ PCOO funds to force Badoy to resign: Lacson

MANILA – Lawmakers cannot “hold” the 2021 budget of the Office of Presidential Communications Operations (PCOO) as a lever to force the resignation of one of its officials, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Friday.

The House appropriations committee this week suspended the agency’s budget deliberations after the Makabayan bloc accused PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy of falsely labeling several lawmakers as communist leaders.

Resignation is “always a personal decision and depends on the person being asked to resign,” Lacson said.

“If all of Congress supports Congressman Zárate and the rest of the Makabayan bloc, then there may be more to do. But if not, that’s it, ”he told ANC.

“We cannot sacrifice the entire budget for the retention or resignation of a government official. It is not possible to hijack their entire budget, ”he added.

(If the entire Congress supports Congressman Zárate and the rest of the Makabayan bloc, it could lead to something. But if not, that’s it … The entire budget cannot be held hostage).

The Makabayan is weighing charges against Badoy, who allegedly accused the bloc of leading the communists “to destroy the government and kill democracy.”

Red harassment or “terror labeling” is a threat to the lives of Makabayan members, said ACT party representative France Castro.

Badoy said it would not resign from PCOO.

“The representatives of the Makabayan bloc should give a break to this red label position. We can no longer count the number of times they have sued the government for a red label. They have done it in all administrations. And each time, our courts do so. dismissed for lack of merit, “he said on Facebook.

The PCOO will ask Badoy to distinguish her personal opinion from her “professional life” as a government official, said Undersecretary Kris Ablan.