Ex-CJ says 10% of voters can scrap pork

MANILA, Philippines - Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno believes that the people need not wait for the government to scrap the "pork barrel" as they can create an amendment to abolish the funding.

Puno said in a television interview Tuesday night that the public outrage against lawmakers' and officials' misuse of "pork barrel" such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as well as the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) can be channeled through Republic Act 6735.

"You cannot expect (Congress) to pass legislation that would be contrary to their selfish interest. Nawala na 'yung moral authority nila to enact this kind of law," Puno said.

RA 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act states that 10 percent of registered electorate can approve or reject legislation through an election called for the purpose.

"The power of initiative and referendum may be exercised by all registered voters of the country, autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays," the law states.

Puno said that Congress, in a representative democracy, can be bypassed by the people's initiative in passing needed laws.

"Hindi lang Kongreso ang may karapatang magpanukala ng batas, kung hindi ang taong bayan mismo ... kung sa palagay nila ay ang ating Kongreso ay hindi ginagawa ang kanilang katungkulan," he said.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said, meanwhile, that it is better if people would wait for the final decision of the Supreme Court on the PDAF and DAP before setting out on gathering the votes against pork.

Under the law, the Comelec is mandated to set a special registration day at least three weeks before the initial referendum.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said, however, that the constitutional provision on the people's initiative is "too ideal" in the Philippine scenario.