Sonny O: Pork barrels part of Philippine-style democracy, kickbacks

IF YOU ask 78-year-old Toledo City Mayor John “Sonny” Osmeña about the pork barrel, he’ll say it can’t be removed because it was “indigenous to democracy, Philippine style.”

The former senator whose political career spans 50 years (18 of them as senator of the republic and 3 as congressman), admitted that there’s money to be made by legislators with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

He said “contractors would give 5 percent commissions” from public works projects sourced from the pork barrel, which was known before in the 1990s as the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF).

“A five percent commission was already big during that time,” he said.

But Osmeña said he didn’t accept any cut because he would tell the contractor to “give it to the local government official” in the area, usually the mayor.

He said the 5 percent commission later increased to 7, 8, 9, 10, and then 12 percent.

“I didn’t get to the time when the commissions went up to 20 percent,” the former lawmaker said.

The PDAF is “symptomatic and indigenous to our democracy,” he said.

“People need money during elections and after elections, when they’re sick, or need money for school, etc.”

“Their demands are endless.”

Osmeña said the pork barrel system of allowing senators and congressmen to fund projects would remain “because democracy requires intelligent appraisal of a political question; the poverty of the electorate is the overriding consideration in the choice of elective officials.”

The situation puts pressure on politicians to find resources to attend to their constituents.

Asked if he was ever bothered by under the table deals in public works projects, Osmeña replied:“I will admit there’s a moral question.”

“Pero maayo kaayo kong mo-rationalize” (But I’m good at rationalizing). I had to survive. And I paid the price because I didn’t play the game to the fullest,” referring to his previous failed senatorial bids in 2004 and 2007.

He said his 2004 reelection loss was painful because he “doled out P5 million to all municipal mayors of Cebu province” to secure their political support.

But the total pork of P150 million didn’t translate to votes because then Governor Pablo Garcia prevailed on the local government officials, Osmeña recalled.

He called them “ingrato” (ingrates) for reneging on their word.

The Toledo city mayor said the PDAF is to senators and congressmen as the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is to local government officials as their monthly share of the national tax collection.

He said he considers both as the same thing – a pork barrel from public funds.

“Dili gyud na mausab, kay mag-hikog ang mga politico.” (Things will not change. Otherwise politicians would commit suicide).

Pressed for an alternative, Osmeña retorted: “You are talking to a 78-year old skeptical politician who has seen everything. And you’re asking me for change?”