MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III should best check again his figures instead of blaming outright the alleged depletion of the 2010 budget by the past administration.

Former Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Elena Bautista-Horn denied Aquino’s allegations in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had misused the 2010 budget.

Bautistan-Horn, speaking for now Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Arroyo, said Aquino should be checking the bank accounts of the different agencies.

“Kailangang tingnan what he is referring to…kasi wala na ang pera sa Department of Budget and Management. January pa lang ang release ng suweldo ng mga kawani ng gobyerno,” she said.

She also denied Pampanga got the biggest chunk of the calamity fund.

“May prosesong pinagdadaanan ‘yan, may municipal disaster coordinating councils,” she said.

Bautista-Horn also defended how the past administration had operated the National Power Corp. (NPC). 

Aquino claimed NPC sold power at a loss leading to its eventual bankruptcy.

“Kaya po natin binenta ng palugi [ang kuryente] para maging affordable [to the people],” she said. The past administration had done its best to provide subsidies to Filipinos reeling from the high costs of energy, she added.

Of the alleged excessive rice purchases of the National Food Authority (NFA), she said: “Hindi naman tayo nag-aangkat… nang hindi dumadaan sa proseso… Magandang paalala na may world food crisis noong 2007.”

Bautista-Horn also claimed the Arroyo administration had done its part in resolving the problems besetting the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

In fact, an agency had earlier been tasked to investigate the anomalous incentives that members of the Board of Trustees allegedly received.

Some of them have already been removed from the board, she said.

Bautista-Horn said it is unfair that the Aquino-created Truth Commission is setting its sights on the alleged injustices done by the members of the Arroyo administration.

The anomalies of past administrations should also be looked into, she said.

Meanwhile, Arroyo’s relatives also debunked the accusations of Aquino.

Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo said the speech lacked evidence.

Negros Occidental 5th district Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, on the other hand, said Aquino should have also focused on relevant matters such as the distribution of the Hacienda Luisita to the farmers.