If voted to Congress, Kris Aquino says she won’t need ‘pork’
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III’s celebrity sister said she would have no need for the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), more known as pork barrel, if she is voted to Congress in 2016.
Television host and movie actor Kris Aquino bared her opinions on PDAF after she gave 3,000 relief packs to flood victims in this Pampanga capital on Friday.
Earlier that day, President Aquino announced his decision to abolish the controversial pork barrel on the heels of a government investigation of lawmakers who allegedly used bogus nongovernment organizations and faked recipients to steal public funds with the supposed help of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
With her eldest sister Ballsy, Kris worked 14 hours on Friday, giving relief packs to 1,200 flood victims in Paniqui town and 1,500 bags in Concepcion town, both in Tarlac province, and 500 bags in Tarlac City.
Before the San Fernando event, the Aquino sisters and Pampanga Rep. Joseller Guiao distributed 1,800 packs in Magalang town.
The sisters said the relief operations were their way of reaching out to those whom the President could not visit due to several commitments.
“I am used to television taping. I am used to an 18-hour workday,” Kris said.
“I work long hours because I need funds. I spend my money on this relief drive. I need to work so that I won’t need the PDAF. So I would have to work, work and work. I will do this with much gusto,” she said in Filipino.
“This is just what I would like to say. In 2009, when I started going to the provinces, I was accused of doing this for P-Noy. Look, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and now 2013, I have been consistent in my provincial visits.”
It’s up to destiny
“Whatever will happen in 2016 is up to destiny,” the television host said.
Her brother, Kris said, has bounced back from a pollen allergy attack but the sickness could recur since he does not take medicine to keep it in check.
He skipped several events to rest and recover, Kris said. The allergy, she said, runs in the family, coming from the side of their mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.
“The President is stubborn. I take maintenance medicines daily. In the morning, I take one and at night, I take two to contain the allergic rhinitis, which we inherited from the side of Mom,” she said.
