SC issues TRO vs pork barrel

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday barred the release for the rest of the year the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and President Benigno Aquino III's Malampaya Funds, commonly known as pork barrel, the subject of recent investigations due to alleged misuse.

The SC, after an en banc meeting, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the release of PDAF left in the 2013 national budget.

"The court resolved to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the Department of Budget and Management, the National Treasurer, the Executive Secretary or any persons acting under their authority from releasing the remaining (PDAF) allocated to members of Congress under the General Appropriations Act of 2013," the court said in a statement.

The TRO also applies to "the Malampaya Funds under the phrase, 'for such other purposes as may be hereafter directed by the President'," the high tribunal added.

The Malampaya Funds, however, was only partially restrained allowing it to be used for "financing energy resource development, exploitation programs and projects of the government" under Section 8 of the Presidential Decree No. 910.

All SC justices unanimously agreed on the halt order, acting on three petitions filed by former senatorial aspirant Greco Belgica, political party Social Justice Society and a certain Pedrito Nepomuceno seeking to declare the PDAF allocation unconstitutional.

Oral arguments on the PDAF release are scheduled on October 8 at 2 pm.

The TRO comes amid controversy on the multi-billion pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles.  Napoles allegedly  facilitated the use of several lawmakers’ PDAF through bogus non-government organizations.

President Benigno Aquino III has bared plans to scrap the existing pork barrel system amid public protests.