Palace not too keen on people's initiative vs pork barrel

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang seems to be not too supportive of the move to abolish the pork barrel system through a people's initiative.

While recognizing that it is valid exercise of citizens' rights, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said a people's initiative against the pork barrel system is "not the only available option at this time."

Coloma said a people's initiative presupposes that the Legislative and the Executive branches of government are not willing to enact and implement laws against the misuse of public funds.

"We believe there are sufficient avenues for legislative reform and that Congress is prepared to enact laws to institutionalize these reforms," Coloma said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

"The administration is supportive of legislative reforms and is prepared to adapt on its own appropriate measures that will safeguard the integrity of public funds," he added.

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno who had called for a people’s initiative against all types of pork barrel in the wake of the Disbursement Acceleration Program controversy and the alleged scam that diverted lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Funds to bogus non-government organizations.