Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Gwendolyn “Gwen” Pimentel Friday warned the government against unnecessary spending for election projects that could result to inflation and higher government deficits.

Pimentel issued the statement following the Department of Finance (DoF) warning that the government had incurred a P134.2-billion deficit in the first quarter, breaching the P110.9-billion limit and nearly half of the full-year target.

The deficit was also bigger than the P119.7-billion gap recorded in the same three months of last year.

“Our people will face more economic hardships, unemployment and slower economic growth if our government persists on overspending in an attempt to influence the results of the forthcoming elections,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel noted that expenditures for the period amounted to P400 billion, exceeding the ceiling by P22.8 billion.

The government, she said apparently spent heavily for various projects intended to “boost the chances of the administration in influencing the results of the coming elections.”