News Release - March 18, 2005
References: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 0927-2157392
Vince Borneo, Information Officer, 0927-7968198 or 259-1145

Las Vegas junket shows the insincerity of certain Congressmen

"Once again a classic bare-faced Congressional manner of wasting the people's money."

Thus declared MIGRANTE Sectoral Party Chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado on the few "rich and famous Congressmen who consider it a duty of their respective representations to go Las Vegas for the Manny Pacquiao boxing match."

Representatives Ignacio Arroyo (Negros Occidental), Monico Puentevella (Bacolod City), Rodolfo Albano III (Isabela), Joel Mayo Almario (Davao Oriental), Luis Bersamin (Abra), and Rodolfo Plaza (Agusan del Sur) were identified as having gone on the trip.

"It is extremely revolting to note that these Congressmen are going on an extravagant junket that is obviously in no way beneficial to the constituents of their respective district representations. This also shows that government is not really cash-strapped as it would like the public to believe. And we are all made to believe that there is a financial crisis in government," Bragas-Regalado said.

Cong. Plaza, who is already in Las Vegas, has asserted that his "US trip was official, as he was scheduled to meet the Filipino community in Texas on March 24."

"The House of Representatives paid for each Congressman's plane ticket worth P171,984 (if they took Philippine Airlines, First Class) and gave US$1,500 (P81,000) in allowances each for those on 'official business' to watch the Manny Pacquiao boxing match. If those amounts (totalling P252,984 per Congressman who went to Las Vegas) were devoted to medical assistance of P1,000 each to their constituencies, at least 252 indigent people would have something to buy medicines," Bragas-Regalado said.

The MIGRANTE leader also said that this "is entirely different from the truly official trips made by Congressmen Crispin Beltran, Roseller Barinaga and Edcel Lagman to Japan in order to save the lives and livelihood of 80,000 Filipinas who may fall victim to new immigration policies of the said country. Concerned House authorities do not want to refund their air fare expenses inspite of the fact that the said trip has resulted in ongoing policy formulation for our compatriots in Japan."

"This government that makes excuses that it is "cash-strapped" no right to say that more revenues are needed via taxes. It has the financial resources but refuses to use these for social services. The current junket by a few privileged Congressmen close to Malacanang adds further basis for us to lobby for the scrapping of all moves to increase the Value Added Tax and other revenue measures that will further burden the people. This reality will further stoke the anger of our people already burdened by the economic crisis and government moves to increase taxes," Bragas-Regalado ended. #