HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, whose priority development assistance fund (PDAF) has been allegedly withheld by Budget Sec. Florencio “Butch” Abad, is now heavily relying on the P1 million pork barrel  which ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised to share to help 1,100 affected scholars enroll this second semester.

Magsaysay said the promise made by Mrs. Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative and whose pork barrel has been released by Abad, that she would share her pork barrel in the amount of one million pesos to each of her colleague would save the education of her scholars.

“I will use the P1 million to fund the scholars, I have 1,100 scholars. Kapag hindi na dumating titigil na sila sa pag-aaral,” said Magsaysay after Mrs. Arroyo vowed to share P1 million each to her colleagues who have not received their pork barrel funds.

“She committed naman na tig-P1 million kami na mga wala and Sec. Abad agreed to share the pork barrel of GMA. This will come from her P15 million soft project,” Magsaysay added.

Earlier, Magsaysay hit Abad anew following reports that their allies in Congress are now preparing to submit the list of projects for the second tranche of PDAF or pork barrel worth P35 million while some lawmakers in the opposition are yet to receive their share for the first tranche.

Lawmakers also challenged Abad on his latest statement about pork barrel, saying he should “walk the talk” by immediately releasing the funds intended to various congressional districts in the countryside.

Abad said the statement of House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on the release of pork barrel funds of Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand “Martin” Romualdez and Mindoro Occidental Mindoro Rep. Ma. Amelita “Girlie” Villarosa was correct.

In ambush interview with this reporter in New York City last week during President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s official visit, he clarified that no single district in the country would be deprived of pork barrel funds.

“Walang distritong hindi mabibigyan at hindi magsa-suffer ang scholarship at medical assistance program,” said Abad.

In the case of Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas, Abad said the pork barrel funds of the Mindanao lawmaker were already released.

But Abad admitted that the first tranche of PDAF in the amount of P35 million for Magsaysay, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo and Iloilo Rep. Augusto “Buboy” Syjuco are still being discussed.