Poe, Pimentel forgo P200-M ‘pork’ for 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Taking their cue from the massive public outrage over pork barrel, Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Grace Poe have formally asked the Senate committee on finance to delete their respective P200-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations under the 2014 budget.

Committee chairman Sen. Francis Escudero had also earlier decided to do away with his PDAF allocations for next year. Escudero said eight senators have submitted their positions on their PDAF to the committee. The names of the other senators were not yet available at press time.

Escudero promised that a complete list would be provided to the media after the Nov. 11 deadline.

In a letter dated Nov. 7, Poe asked for the “consequent deduction” of the P200 million in PDAF allocated for her office from the proposed 2014 budget pending the “final approval by the Senate of the Philippines.”

Pimentel also said he is no longer availing of any PDAF allocation for next year, as well the P190-million balance under his pork barrel funds for this year.

“For this reason, I respectfully request that the amount of P200 million allocated as my PDAF be removed and deducted from the budget,” Pimentel said in a letter dated Nov. 5.

During the last senators’ caucus, Escudero said he and his colleagues reached an agreement to leave the senators to their individual decisions regarding what to do with their PDAF. 

Active participation

At Malacañang, Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office urged the public to be more vigilant and engage in “active participation” with authorities in fighting graft and corruption.

“We need vast knowledge on this, vigilance and participation possibly by a majority of our people. Although the government is spearheading the drive against corruption, we also need the people to join us in this crusade,” he said. – With Paolo Romero, Delon Porcalla