Drilon sees ‘stronger,’ ‘credible’ Senate once ‘pork’ scammers are punished

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippine – Senate President Franklin Drilon is confident that the Senate will emerge “stronger” and  “more credible”  as soon as those guilty in  the “pork barrel” scam are punished and those innocent are acquitted.

At least three senators have been charged with plunder for allegedly  funnelling their Priority Development Assistance Fund  (PDAF) or “pork barrel” funds to fake non-government organizations.

“I am not surprised by the drop in my approval rating in the latest Pulse Asia Survey since I have been the subject of a vicious media vilification campaign in the past weeks by people intent to muddle the issues behind this pork barrel scandal and divert the public anger from the real culprits of the case,” Drilon said in a statement  on  Wednesday, reacting to the  latest  Pulse Asia survey which  showed  a 12-percentage point decline in his approval rating from 62 percent  in June.

“However, I am confident that after our justice system takes its course; when after a speedy and impartial trial the guilty is punished and imprisoned and the innocent is acquitted, the Senate as an institution will emerge stronger and more credible in the eyes of the Filipino people,”  he said.

The same  survey  conducted from September 14 to 27  showed that the Senate’s approval rating dropped to 39 percent from 53 percent in June.

The Senate leader  reiterated that  the pork barrel controversy was a “painful cleansing process” for both chambers of Congress but the Senate, he  said “intend to go through this process in earnest.”

“Reforms in the Senate will start with the immediate and unconditional abolition of the pork barrel system,” Drilon said.

“I said it before and I say it again: the pork barrel scam is a great injustice to the Filipino people and I will not stop until the truth will come out in the Senate investigation and those responsible for corrupt practices will be held accountable for their actions,”  he further said.

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