Batangas parents urge SC to lift TRO on PDAF

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Parents of some 3,000 indigent students from Batangas State University urged the Supreme Court to allow the release of the remaining Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers to cover expenses of their scholars.

In a letter submitted to the Supreme Court Wednesday, Marites de Torres of Lipa City, Batangas said scholars of Batangas 4th district Representative Mark Llandro Mendoza will suffer with the temporary restraining order issued by the high court.

The high court issued a temporary restraining order against PDAF following allegations that lawmakers have channelled their PDAF to fake non-government organizations of Janet Lim-Napoles.

“The current controversy surrounding the questionable use of PDAF is the reason why its release has been suspended. Even legitimate projects were affected by the TRO and because of that, studies of the students have been affected,” De Torres said.

Signatures of the parents of scholars were attached in the letter.

During the oral argument, the government, through Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, urged the high court “for humanitarian considerations” to partially lift the stay order to cover the funding of existing scholarships and providing medical assistance to poor patients.

The high court will resolve the legality of PDAF next month.

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