By Len Transporte
Former Senate President Franklin Drilon has warned that the executive branch’s power to withhold funds under the “for later release” (FLR) mechanism, while intended as a fiscal safeguard, can be wielded as a political weapon against administration opponents.
Drilon, who also served as executive secretary, made the observation amid questions over whether the President’s ability to impound congressional appropriations effectively weakens Congress’ constitutional power of the purse.
The issue has gained renewed attention following controversies over alleged “ghost” flood control projects, which prompted the government to tighten spending and suspend the release of certain allocations.
Drilon said the FLR mechanism serves a legitimate fiscal purpose by allowing the President to hold back appropriations when government revenues fall short of projections, helping prevent the deficit from ballooning.
“Alam mo, huwag natin kalimutan yung check and balance. So mayroong ‘for later release.’ Anong ibig sabihin nun? Ang ibig sabihin, pwedeng i-impound ng Presidente,” Drilon said.
“Dahil sa pwedeng ang koleksyon e hindi dun as predicted, kulang. Kaya in order to prevent a huge deficit, the President exercises the power for later release,” he added.
But Drilon drew a distinction between how the mechanism is supposed to work in theory and how it can be applied in the rough-and-tumble world of politics.
“In theory, ganun. But in practice, pagkalaban ka sa politika, ‘for later release,’” he said.
Such discretion has raised questions over whether withholding appropriations approved by Congress could be used to exert political pressure, particularly against lawmakers or local officials outside the administration coalition.
Asked whether he had personally experienced having funds withheld during his decades in government, Drilon played down his own experience while acknowledging that such political realities come with the territory.
“Wala masyado. Nagiging victim ng FLR noong panahon ng Presidente… Kasama lahat yan sa trabaho,” he said.
“Superminority kayo noon, supermajority ngayon,” Drilon added.—Politiko.com.ph
