A ranking leader of the House opposition bloc yesterday asked Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad not to take away the hope of poor Filipinos for a better life amid the continued withholding of the priority development assistance funds (PDAF) or pork barrel of some members of the minority.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said Abad should ensure that all entitlements of members of the House of Representatives are released on time.

“Secretary Abad should not take away the hope of the people in a government that is supposed to care and make their lives better now and in the future,” said Magsaysay.

Aside from Magsaysay, other lawmakers from the minority who are yet to receive the first tranche of PDAF in the amount of P35 million include Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap, Iloilo Rep. Augusto “Buboy” Syjuco, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand “Martin” Romualdez, Mindoro Occidental Mindoro Rep. Ma. Amelita “Girlie” Villarosa and Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas.

Magsaysay said the interest of various groups is being jeopardized by the continued non-release of their pork barrel, especially the scholars, indigents and other poor Filipinos.    

“It’s the constituents that suffer with the non-release of the PDAF. Scholars who will have to stop schooling, patients who will not be given pre- and post-medical care, senior citizens who will lose their supply of free maintenance medicines, the poor having a chance in life through livelihood assistance, infrastructure development in education and public works that would be beneficial to all,” Magsaysay added.

Earlier, she challenged Abad not to be vindictive with the critics of the Aquino administration by releasing their pork barrel.

“They said they were not vindictive and will release all entitlements meant for the people, that remains to be seen,” said Magsaysay.

Magsaysay said she is very much worried about the future of her 1,100 scholars in the coming semester because of the unreleased PDAF or pork barrel.

“I hope they will not jeopardize the future of my scholars. I have 1,100 scholars who are now facing a bleak future due to the continued non-release of funds which will support their education,” said Magsaysay.

She also disclosed that administration allies in Congress have been preparing the list of projects for the second tranche of PDAF worth another P35 million while some lawmakers in the opposition have not even received their allocations in the first tranche.