A HIGH ranking opposition leader yesterday lamented that a great number of indigent patients would be deprived of medical care following the continued non-release of their priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or pork barrel by Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said Abad’s refusal to release the pork barrel of Minority solons is now jeopardizing the health of many indigent patients.

“It’s the constituents that suffer with the non-release of the PDAF, including patients who will not be given pre and post-medical care,” a dismayed Magsaysay said.

She said Abad should ensure that all entitlements of members of the House of Representatives are released on time.

She explained that indigent patients cannot have check-ups without the congressional medical programs of lawmakers.

“But the success of this program to help the indigent patients depends on the release of our PDAF,” said Magsaysay.

Earlier, she urged Abad to ensure that maintenance drugs of senior citizens will remain available to them by releasing the pork barrel funds of several members of the House minority bloc.

Magsaysay, who has yet to receive the first tranche of her pork barrel in the amount of P35 million, said the lives of some senior citizens are now at stake with the continued non-release by Abad of their pork barrel.  

“Even senior citizens will lose their supply of free maintenance medicines. We should not put their lives in danger,” an irate Magsaysay said.

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,  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.