Retired generals push pork barrel abolition

MANILA, Philippines - A group of former generals is calling for the abolition of the pork barrel and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which have been perceived as sources of corruption.

The generals who called themselves the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Advocacy Group said the current issues involving public funds are “a result of a systems failure in governance, exacerbated by a breach of ethical standards by some public officials.”

“National progress and the upliftment of the quality of life of the Filipino, especially the less fortunate in the society, can be better achieved if public funds are properly used,” the manifesto, furnished to the media yesterday, read.

The former generals listed as signatories of the manifesto were Rosalino Alquiza (PMA class ’55), Rafael Enriquez, (class ’57), Plaridel Abaya (class ’59) Galileo Kintanar (class ’60), Reynaldo Reyes (class ’64), Fredelino Bautista (class ’66), Manuel Espejo (class ’66), Mariano Santiago (class ’67), Victor Abat (class ’77), Ramon Farolan (class ’56), Alfredo Adriano Jr. (class ’58), Carlos Agustin (class ’59), Rene Ebro (class ’63), Jose Solquillo (class ’65), Guillermo Cunanan (class ’66), Raul Urgello (class ’66) and Alejandro Flores Jr. (class ’72).

However, the manifesto only contained the signatures of Alquiza, Bautista, Ebro and Solquillo.

The group called on Congress and President Aquino to totally abolish the pork barrel, formally known as priority development assistance fund (PDAF) in whatever form.

The generals also wants on the president to discontinue the DAP, which critics of the administration claimed was used to bribe members of Congress.

The group also urged Aquino to submit all unbudgeted funds like the Malampaya fund, road users’ tax and social funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to the budgetary process and oversight power of Congress.

The retired generals also cited the need for lawmakers to provide the president with enough funds to deal with calamities and other contingencies subject to its oversight power.

The PMA Alumni Advocacy Group also wants:

• the enactment of a law requiring that all state revenues be deposited in the national treasury to be spent only as may be provided in the annual budget.
• public officials implicated in the misuse of pork barrel or accused of amassing wealth illegally to take a leave of absence or resign without prejudice to their prosecution for criminal offense
• the judiciary to initiate reforms within its tanks “to ensure speedy and impartial trial, to punish the guilty and clear the innocent.”
• all public officials including the military, police and Coast Guard to set the correct example in good governance and to perform their duties as protectors of the people and the state. The group also called on the officials to refrain from using their office as an opportunity to amass wealth illegally.

“We continue to be Filipino citizens. We are speaking in behalf of our comrades, graduates of PMA, who are not in the active service anymore but who share our sentiments and our views,” Alquiza said.

Sought for comment, Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the retired generals have the right to express their views on various issues.

“This is a manifesto by retired officers and there is freedom of speech. They can say whatever they want and we respect that,” Zagala said.

He said the military would remain insulated from politics and would continue to perform its duty.