Drilon denies ‘pork’ scam being used to change constitution, abolish Congress

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Franklin Drilon strongly denied any insinuations that the “pork barrel” scandal was being used to justify the abolition of Congress by changing the Constitution.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think that by any stretch of an imagination, you can connect all of these to Cha-Cha (Charter change),” Drilon said in an interview Monday.

“It’s all a question of enforcing our Anti- Graft Law. Nothing else,” the Senate leader added.

Drilon was reacting to Senator Ramon “Bong”   Revilla Jr.’s mention in a privilege speech Monday about an alleged “grand plan” to abolish Congress.

“Sana lang po, ang pagwasak sa reputasyon ng Senado at Kongreso ay walang kinalaman sa isang grand design para mawala ang tiwala ng publiko sa institusyong ito, tungo sa pag-abolish ng mga ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbago sa konstitusyon o Cha-cha,” Revilla said.

(I just hope that the destruction of the Senate’s and Congress’ reputation has nothing to do with the grand design to destroy the public’s trust in these institutions, so that these can be abolished through Charter change.)

RELATED STORIES

Kap Bong Revilla delivers ‘amazing’ speech 

Election lawyer wants Congress abolished