OPPOSITION lawmakers are demanding an explanation from the Department of Budget and Management and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. for the delay in the release of their Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.
Minority Deputy Leader Mitos Magsaysay said that until now DBM Secretary Florencio Abad and Speaker Belmonte have not given a categorical answer to their query about the non-release of the PDAF of some lawmakers, especially members of the opposition.
“Walang binibigay na reason until now. Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit, samantalang ang iba may PDAF na. The others lawmakers nga are already preparing menu for the second tranche of the pork, kami yung una hindi pa naibigay,” Magsaysay said.
The opposition lamented that while President Benigno Aquino already ordered the DBM to release all the pork of the congressmen, there are some who until now have yet to receive theirs.
From the opposition group, 10 are still “porkless.” They are Magsaysay, Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas, Mindoro Occidental Rep. Amelita Villarosa, Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco and Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker from the South, who requested anonymity, also disclosed that there are some lawmakers from Mindanao who until now have yet to receive their pork.
Each lawmaker is allotted P70 million pork every year.
The lawmakers said that the pork barrel is included in the approved national budget and that there is no reason for the national government not to release it.
Magsaysay said the non-release of pork affects their constituents who depend on the medical, burial and educational assistance they provide with their PDAF share.
She said her scholars have been forced to resort to promisory notes to be able to enroll this semester.
“At wala na rin kaming maibigay na medical assistance sa mga nagkakasakit,” she added.
Published : Wednesday May 23, 2012 | Category : Headlines | Views : 80
By : Bernadette Tamayo
Corona agrees to open his peso and dollar accounts on condition his accusers do the sameFACING his accusers as his own star witness, embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday stunned the Senate impeachment court with his offer to waive the confidentiality of his bank accounts – but on condition that... Read more
Published : Tuesday May 22, 2012 | Category : Headlines | Views : 165
By : Bernadette Tamayo
TODAY’S testimony of embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona before the Senate, sitting as impeachment court, would either “make or break” his defense against the allegation that he lied about his real wealth as well as protected the interest of former President now Rep.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a series of Supreme Court... Read more
Published : Monday May 21, 2012 | Category : Headlines | Views : 191
By : Ryan Ponce Pacpaco
THE 11-man House prosecution panel yesterday joined the call of senator-judges for impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona to issue a waiver that would allow the Senate Impeachment Court to scrutinize his supposed huge dollar deposits. Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara and Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep.... Read more
Published : Sunday May 20, 2012 | Category : Headlines | Views : 353
By : Jun Icban Legaspi
LAWYERS of embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona said yesterday that the team has earnestly prepared the magistrate to answer possible questions that the prosecution may ask when he takes the witness stand on Tuesday. In a press conference in Quezon City, Atty. Karen Jimeno said the defense team has even... Read more
Published : Saturday May 19, 2012 | Category : Headlines | Views : 296
By : Lee Ann Ducusin
THE Department of Labor and Employment yesterday announced that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region had approved a new wage order for workers in the region. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the wage board approved a P30 increase in the daily cost of living allowance of minimum... Read more
