Sotto mulls giving up his ‘pork barrel’

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is mulling to give up his “pork barrel” funds “to remove doubts” in his office.

“I have no problem with the abolition of the PDAF,” Sotto said in a text message to reporters, referring to their priority development assistance funds known as “pork barrel” that has been tainted by allegations that the money went to bogus non-government organizations created by allegedly Janet Napoles.

“In fact, I’m planning to give it up to remove all doubts in my office. But I hope they just make sure that all the hospitals and [villages] I’m helping are taken care of,” he said.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer had earlier reported that portions of Sotto’s PDAF were used to buy garbage deodorizer for the municipality of Teresa though town officials had allegedly made no request for the fund.

But the senator strongly denied the allegation.