Senators to abide by SC order to stop release of PDAF
Senator Franklin Drilon and Senator Francis Escudero III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The senators will abide by the Supreme Court’s order to stop the release of their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) this year, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.
“We will abide by the Supreme Court resolution,” Drilon told reporters at the Senate shortly after the high court issued a temporary restraining order against the release of the remaining PDAF or “pork barrel”.
Both Drilon and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the court’s decision was “moot” since the Senate had put on hold the release of their remaining PDAF after President Benigno Aquino III himself called for its abolition.
“That’s moot and irrelevant in so far as the Senate is concerned because ever since President Aquino made the announcement, Senate President Drilon also made the announcement to hold the PDAF,” said Escudero, chairman of the committee on finance.
“So whether there’s a TRO or not, the PDAF of the senators have been put on hold,” he added.
At a certain point, however, Drilon said the court would have to decide on the merits of the petition, questioning the legality of PDAF.
“So at a certain point and I don’t know when that would be, the issue would have to be resolved on the merits,” said the Senate leader.
Asked then about Congress’ argument that it has the power over the purse, Drilon said: “The issue is whether its constitutional or not and we will submit to the sound discretion of the court based on jurisprudence and the allegations of the petition.”
He then saw no reason for him, as a respondent in the petition, to appear and state his position on PDAF before the high tribunal.
Escudero reiterated that the issue on the legality of pork barrel funds was separate from the issue of whether or not Congress should scrap it.
Both Drilon and Escudero supported moves to scrap the pork barrel funds.
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