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Sunday, November 13, 2005
Arroyo's adviser seeks inquiry on use of 'pork'
CEBU CITY -- Party-list representatives need to account for their pork barrel, following reports that some congressmen used taxpayers' funds to finance projects against the government, a presidential adviser said.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales made the call during a press conference in Cebu Saturday.
Gonzales said he was disturbed to hear such reports, considering that last year alone, party-list representatives received more than P500 in pork barrel funds, or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Gonzales was in Cebu to attend the meeting of the Partido Demokratiko-Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).
He also met Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who supported him when he was ordered detained by the Senate blue ribbon committee after a Sept. 21 hearing. Gonzales had declined to answer questions on the P50-million lobby contract Malacañang signed with US law firm Venable LLP.
"I am suspecting that a huge portion of their (party-list representatives') development assistance fund is being used by the New People's Army (NPA), the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) of which these party-list groups are under," Gonzales said.
"These party-list congressmen should not only say that they used the money for projects. Tell the people what these projects are," Gonzales said.
However, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo earlier denied that his party financed NPA rebels.
Ocampo has said about P50 million worth of PDAF allotted to his party went to legitimate development projects.
Under the proposed P1.03-trillion national budget, each House lawmaker will get P40 million.
In a press conference last week, Pastor Alcover Jr. of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy accused party-list groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Partido ng Manggagawa, Buklurang ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Sanlakas and Akbayan of using their PDAF to finance protest rallies against the government and the administration of President Arroyo.
"I challenge Ocampo and other party-list representatives to be transparent in spending their pork barrel funds," Alcover said.
Gonzales said he was aware of political personalities who are "elements of the NPA" now being deployed in the cities.
Under the party-list system, 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives are reserved for smaller parties, provided they get at least two percent of the votes cast in the party-list system. The system is supposed to keep traditional parties and the elite from dominating politics.
"What I'm trying to say is that it's okay if these are all peaceful organizations who are joining debates. But if their armed components will participate, that's another story," Gonzales said. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(November 13, 2005 issue)
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