MANILA - Vice presidential candidate Rep. Leni Robredo asked political rival Francis "Chiz" Escudero on what he has done in the past to reform the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In the debate held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Sunday afternoon, Robredo asked Escudero: "Binanggit kasi ni Senator Chiz na 'yung essence ng corruption ay 'yung discretion. Dapat tinatanggal 'yung discretion sa aming mga public officials... Ang tanong ko po, napaka-tagal n'ya nag-congressman, napaka-tagal n'ya po nag senator, nakinabang sa PDAF. 'Yung PDAF po ay diskresyon, ano po ang tinanggal n'ya para mawala ang diskresyon?"

Escudero answered that as finance committee chairman in the Senate, he spearheaded the passing of the General Appropriations Act that implemented the Supreme Court's decision abolishing PDAF.

"Ako po ang finance committee chairman ng Senado na nagpatupad ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nag-abolish sa PDAF. In fact, isinulat namin sa GAA mismo, 'yung eksaktong salita at pangungusap sa desisyon ng korte sa kauna-unahang General Appropriations Act na nagbawal sa PDAF," he replied.

Not satisfied with Escudero's answer, Robredo clarified that she was asking about what the senator has done in the past to remove discretion from public officials.

"Kahit naman po kami sa Kongreso, ipinasa namin 'yung GAA. Andun din po 'yun, pero hindi po iyon ang tanong ko. Ang tanong ko po, napakatagal n'yang congressman, 'yung PDAF po tinanggal lang, ngayon lang pong term namin. Ano po 'yung ginawa niya dati para maiwasan 'yung discretion."

In response, Escudero answered that he has not received any PDAF allocation during Arroyo's administration.