Ping joins filing of anti-‘pork’ petition before SC

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator and Yolanda rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson yesterday accompanied anti-pork barrel advocates in filing their petition with the Supreme Court (SC) to stop government spending of lump sum and discretionary funds in this year’s budget.

The group, led by former national treasurer Leonor Briones of the anti-corruption watchdog Social Watch Philippines, asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order on the implementation of Sections 70 and 73 of the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and special provisions for special purpose funds.

Sec. 70 defines savings as portions or balances of any unreleased appropriations in the GAA that were not obligated. Sec. 73 contains rules on the realignment of allotment classes and re-prioritization of items of appropriations.

The petitioners urged the SC to declare such provisions in the budget as unconstitutional, citing earlier decisions of the high tribunal voiding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and key acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).