A resolution is being passed in the hallowed halls of Congress seeking the abolition of P25 billion in pork barrel in the 2014 national budget. No less than House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny†Belmonte’s signature is on this resolution, and we were told that the majority of the members of Congress agree with this resolution. Although this resolution is only for the abolishment of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the 2014 national budget, how i wish they should have abolished it forever!
It is easy enough for a Congressman to resurrect the PDAF in another shape or form or name in the 2015 budget. But it is in my book a step in the right direction. I salute Speaker Sonny Belmonte for showing to the nation that they are listening to the cries of the Filipino people.
At this point, may I suggest to Speaker Belmonte that Congress must now support Charter changes so that we can finally banish the pork barrel forever by changing the 1987 Constitution. Then we can come up with a federal system of government so that the needs of Filipinos can be met no matter how far they live from the seat of power.
Meanwhile, still on the pork barrel issue. Did I read it right when that Palace Rasputin Edwin Lacierda told the media that there was a difference between President Benigno “P-Noy†Aquino III’s Social Fund (PSF) and the pork barrel fund of legislators? From his own words as reported in The Philippine STAR, Lacierda said, “Let me be clear, pork barrel is in the context of using it as a means of re-election. The President has no pork barrel because he is not up for re-election.†So where’s the difference?
I have never heard such illogical excuse said in the hallowed halls of Malacañang! What’s happening to Edwin Lacierda… is he losing his marbles? By this statement Lacierda accuses the entire Congress of using their pork barrels for re-election. I’m scared that such a reckless statement might just cause a crack between the President and his allies in Congress.
No matter how he tries to protect his Lord and Master in this pork barrel issue, in the eyes of the Filipino people pork barrel in whatever name Lacierda may call it… Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the President’s Special Fund, it’s still pork barrel. Call it same dog with a different collar. Mr. Lacierda is also suggesting that because P-Noy is not up for re-election so he doesn’t need a pork barrel. But somehow Lacierda lost the reality that his President is the leader of the Liberal Party (LP) and therefore he needs his partymates to be re-elected. That’s why the President is keeping his pork barrel regardless of what you Netizens say!
This is the problem with the team called Palace spokesmen under the Presidential Communications Operations Office. They have been engaged in too much propaganda they have detached themselves from reality, and when push comes to shove, they end up giving more disinformation… believing that the Filipino will take their word hook, line and sinker!
If P-Noy’s ears are on the ground, it is time for him to replace his spokespersons for they are only making things worse for him. Surely by now these people know that in today’s times, the majority of our youth are already Internet savvy and therefore they just don’t take the word of the Malacañang spokesmen like Bible truth.
* * *
Just when the president’s “Daang Matuwid†has been torn to shreds, thanks to the P10-billion pork barrel scam that has finally opened the eyes of the Filipino people that the biggest corruption was in the hands of the Office of the President and the legislators through the pork barrel, then came the unexpected irrevocable resignation of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nonnatus Rojas citing command responsibility due to allegations that two of his men allegedly aided Janet Lim Napoles in evading arrest. First of all, I salute you Director Rojas for you are a rare breed!
But wait a minute! Shouldn’t the person higher than Director Rojas be giving her own resignation? Yes, I’m referring to Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima. After all, the NBI is under her wing. But then this is a matter of delicadeza and the only people who conduct themselves in the highest ethical standards understand what delicadeza is.
But instead of accepting the resignation of this honorable man, the DoJ Secretary recommended to the President to reject Rojas’ resignation. Knowing how beleaguered the presidency of P-Noy is… he might just keep Director Rojas in the same way that P-Noy kept his Customs men, Ruffy Biazon and Gen. Danilo Lim. If the President refuses the resignation of Rojas, you can say that the President finally hammered the last nail in the coffin of his Daang Matuwid.
* * *
Email: vsbobita@mo-pzcom.com or vsbobita@gmail.com