Many favor CBCP call to shun pork solicitation

MANILA, Philippines—A vast majority of the people who responded to an unofficial poll conducted by INQUIRER.net favor the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines for the public to stop soliciting money from politicians to avoid misuse of pork barrel funds.

A total of 1,830 people responded to the survey, with 91.18 percent saying ‘‘Yes’’ to the question:  “The CBCP has called on the people and church groups to stop soliciting money from politicians. Do you agree with this call?”

CBCP had issued a pastoral letter stating the Church’s opposition to citizens and even the clergy and church-based groups soliciting money from politicians. The letter, written by CBCP incoming president Lingayen – Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, said doing so often force politicians to dip into their pork barrel funds and has become an excuse for them to misallocate their pork.

The “No” votes totaled to only 170 votes, 8.82 percent of the poll tally.