President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino could expect less Filipinos happy with his performance if he continues to ignore their call for him to abolish all pork barrel funds and shield his allies embroiled in the controversy over the pocketing of people’s money, according to militant lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc.
ACT Teachers’ Rep. Antonio Tinio said in a press briefing Monday that as far as the public is concerned, the President still has responsibility and accountability with regard to the pork barrel controversy.
“That ratings slide is because the public has seen that [Aquino] has been defending the PDAF [priority development assistance funds],” Tinio said.
When the issue over the Disbursement Acceleration Program, under which funds from savings were allocated to several lawmakers for their chosen projects, is taken into consideration, the President could take another hit, he said.
“His satisfaction ratings will be lower if he does not heed the public’s call to abolish the pork barrel and abolish the DAP,” he added.
Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, in a statement, also said the chief executive could expect diminished popularity if he continues to protect his allies and fail to hold them accountable with regard to their pork barrel funds.
Ilagan said the drop in ratings was a “natural consequence” of his failure to heed the people’s desire to see the abolition of pork barrel in all its forms, and to pursue all those linked to the alleged fund misuse. He has also failed to address unemployment and increasing prices of basic commodities, she added.
“You cannot steal bread from someone who is hungry and not expect some form of resistance or retaliation. The government’s inaction on the pork barrel scam and the worsening poverty in the country will produce dire consequences for Aquino and his ilk,” she said.
Meanwhile, Makabayan bloc lawmakers called on the public not to be fooled by the contention that the PDAF has been excised from the 2014 budget.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlo Zarate said that while the term PDAF would no longer be found in the budget bill, pork barrel is still alive and well as shown by the fact that lawmakers could still recommend projects.
“Proof that there is still pork barrel is entitlement of House members of nominate. So the claim [there is no more pork] is a big lie,” Zarate said.
Tinio noted that almost all lawmakers had submitted proposals for infrastructure projects to be included in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte earlier said over 260 lawmakers had proposed infrastructure projects.
This was after a portion of the P25 billion allotted initially allotted for the PDAF was realigned to the DPWH. The rest of the PDAF was realigned to departments providing social services, such as education, health and social welfare assistance.
None of the seven Makabayan members recommended infrastructure projects, Tinio said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said it was this very entitlement to recommend projects that turns a fund into pork barrel.
Colmenares added that the reason that the public has condemned the pork was that it was a source of graft and corruption and patronage politics, and this could still exist under the new scheme.