Majority of Pinoys think Senate ‘pork’ probe unfair – Pulse

MANILA, Philippines - A majority of Filipinos think the ongoing Senate investigation on the alleged multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam is “unfair,” a latest survey by Pulse Asia showed.

The survey, taken from June 24 to July 2, found 53 percent of respondents who claim the ongoing investigation into the PDAF scam being conducted by the Senate is “unfair because only those not allied with the current administration are being investigated and charged.”

This sentiment was expressed by majorities in the rest of Luzon (55 percent), Metro Manila (61 percent) and classes ABC and D, 64 percent and 53 percent, respectively.

This is also the plurality opinion in Mindanao (46 percent), the Visayas (50 percent), and class E (48 percent).

On the other hand, 30 percent of Filipinos see the investigation as fair, Pulse Asia said.

The pollster said 11 percent are ambivalent on the matter and six percent say they do not have sufficient knowledge to state an opinion about the fairness of the Senate investigation.

Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile are currently detained while facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam said to be orchestrated by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

The survey also found a big majority of respondents who think the people being linked to the supposed scam are involved. The respondents, however, were split on how many of them were indeed guilty, Pulse Asia said.

Thirty-four percent of the survey respondents said some of the names being linked to the anomaly were “believably involved” in the scam, while 30 percent said most of those accused participated in government fund misuse.

Nineteen percent of respondents said all of the names were involved in the alleged scam, while only four percent believed they were innocent.

Pulse Asia said 90 percent of Filipinos are aware of the various lists of individuals reportedly involved in the PDAF scam that have been made public.

However, a big plurality of respondents (44 percent) admit knowing only a little about this issue.