The Supreme Court by a 14-0-1 vote declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional, made its injunction permanent, and ordered all unused PDAF funds be returned to the National Treasury.
The Supreme Court decision also stopped the discretionary use of Malampaya Fund and the use of the President’s Social Fund (PSF) for infrastructure.
The Supreme Court also directed all prosecutorial agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Ombudsman “to investigate and prosecute all government officials and private individuals for possible criminal offenses related to the irregular, improper, and/or unlawful disbursement of all funds under the pork barrel system.â€
The Supreme Court directive raises a question as to whether DOJ and the Ombudsman will file cases against Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Budget Secretary Butch Abad who released the funds, all senators and congressmen who received PDAF, and President Aquino (and President Gloria Arroyo) who ordered the release of funds .
Also to be charged are the secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and other Cabinet members whose departments assisted in the use of PDAF funds.
How about the contractors designated by lawmakers to implement their PDAF projects? Should not there be restitution too? Return the money.
Super typhoon No. 5
The Supreme Court decision came and is likened to a super typhoon No. 5, which uproots the political patronage systems.
Opinion has also come out that the PDAF abolition removes the President’s control over Congress. Some went further to say President Aquino is now a lame-duck president.
Political analysts also suggested it would limit the number of candidates for Congress that includes spending limits since they no longer have PDAF as a source of campaign funds.
The Supreme Court decision strengthens the cases already filed with the Ombudsman, and increases the chance of conviction.
Looking forward any conviction by the Sandiganbayan will probably sustained on appeal to the Supreme Court.
If the Supreme Court will be consistent, the probability is higher that the Disbursement Allocation Program (DAP) fund will also be declared illegal.
Should the DAP be declared illegal, then there is a stronger case against DBM Secretary Butch Abad and President Aquino.
‘System failed’
On his 3rd day in Leyte, President Aquino visited Basey, Samar and Ormoc City. He visited Palo and Alangalang last Sunday. He finally admitted that the system has failed.
US aid increased its assistance to $37 million.
The Asia America Initiative (AAI) has sent $1 million worth of medicines to Capiz and Iloilo.
Navotas City sent 4,000 packs of relief to Lawaan and Giporlos in Eastern Samar.
Quezon City donated P50 million.
Governor Manuel Ortega of La Union has started a fund drive for ‘Yolanda’ victims.
Globe Telecom pledged P15 million for Gawad Kalinga for the reconstruction of houses.
SM pledged P100 million.
Observations
President Aquino bought 6 kilos of fish at the Palo market. He should have bought all the fish on sale and distributed it to the survivors.
It looks like DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman is stressed-out, even burned-out.
Senator Manny Villar suggested in his column that the conditional cash transfer (CCT) fund be expanded, to include all typhoon survivors, if possible immediately. Survivors arriving in Villamor and Cebu need cash.
DILG Secretary Mar Roxas is getting a lot of flak for fighting with Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
Difficult question
The difficult policy question now is whether to build new houses in the shoreline areas of Tacloban, Guiuan, Basey, Tanauan, Palo, and other coastal towns. Who will fund the rebuilding? Will the Tacloban airport be relocated? Will the 3,200 destroyed classrooms be now built with stronger materials? How about the destroyed bancas of fishermen?
Charge oil companies
With the declaration of a State of National Calamity, a price freeze was declared nationwide.
So why did the oil companies increase their prices Monday, and as much as P1.10 per liter? The oil companies should defer oil increases, while the calamity is ongoing.
It is not enough that no increases in price are made only in the typhoon-destroyed areas.
Foreign volunteers
The Israel medical team has set up a field hospital in Bogo City, Cebu. The British Navy delivered relief to 3 island barangays of Bantayan Island. US Navy choppers dropped off relief supplies to Homonhon Island, Leyte, on the 10th day of the calamity. Homonhon Island suffered a direct hit from ‘Yolanda’. Japan sent 2 warships, with 650 men scheduled to arrive on Friday. It is sending ten planes, including seven C-130. World Health Organization (WHO) doctors have also arrived. The Canadians have put up a command post in Roxas City to service Capiz and Iloilo. Canada added $15 million to its donation.
10 million affected
NDRRMC has announced that 10.15 million people have been affected and displaced by typhoon Yolanda. The damage is now at P12 billion and the latest death toll is 4,011.
In Tacloban 1,594 bodies have been recovered. There are 349,870 persons still staying inside evacuation centers. At Guiuan, Samar, President Aquino spoke of a lower figure of 275,000 individuals to be assisted. A total of more than 543,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged.
Experts estimate it will take as much as 3 years to rehabilitate the damaged areas.
TIDBITS. Congratulations to former Manila Councilor Grecor Belgica for being the first to file a case and win, against the PDAF with the Supreme Court.
Senator Miriam D. Santiago said: “There is God after all.†Question: Did she not also receive PDAF for the last 3 years?
Pasay City has put up a tent only good for 200 persons at Villamor Air Base. Good job, Mayor Tony Calixto.
The people of Antique feel that they have been neglected. Aid has been concentrated in Iloilo and Capiz. Even Boracay has suffered damage.