MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday called on Filipinos to keep an eye on the Senate as the insitution tries to recover from its tainted reputation over some senators' alleged involvement in the P10-billion priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam.
"Ang sinasabi ko nga simula pa dati, ang importante ay maibalik natin ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng pagtatrabaho para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan," Drilon said in a radio interview.
The Senate president said the senators will work on the national budget to ensure a hike in the subsistence allowance of cops and soldiers, regular pension payments for senior citizens and socialized housing at the National Housing Authority, among others.
"Ipapakita namin na hindi na ibabalik ang PDAF, hindi na ibabalik ang pork barrel sa national budget sa 2015," Drilon said.
His statement comes after a recent survey by the Makati Business Club showed that the Senate received the lowest satisfaction rating among 62 government agencies, plunging by 48 spots from 14th place.
Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla are currently detained over plunder and graft charges stemming from their alleged involvement in the PDAF scam.
"...(A)ko po ay humihiling sa taumbayan... bantayan po ang Senado, at maipapakita namin na kami ay pwede ninyong pagkatiwalaan," he said.