MANILA (Update 12:13 p.m.) -- Governance and legislative work are both becoming collateral damage of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, a former leader of the House of Representatives said.
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, former minority leader, said that major legislations have "stagnated" as congressmen-prosecutors and senator-judges busy themselves with roles outside of their traditionally mandated legislative functions.
He said attendance in House sessions has dwindled to less than the requisite quorum since the impeachment trial started. Fourteen members of the House are working for the prosecution team.
"The implementation of national polices to address poverty and hunger may be stalled and the bailout of the fledging economy may fall at the roadside as all guns of the Aquino administration are aimed at the Chief Justice’s head," Lagman said in a statement Wednesday.
A survey recently released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed the number of hungry Filipinos rising to 4.5 million in the last quarter of 2011, up by 400,000 last September.
"The Aquino administration must meaningfully and immediately address these small concerns of small Filipinos rather than divert its time, passion and resources to an agenda of prosecution which will not uplift and empower the greater number," the Albay representative said.
Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay, another member of the House minority, said the government should reassess their strategies in dealing with hunger and use taxpayers' money for more effective programs to help those suffering from extreme poverty.
In a separate statement, Magsaysay suggested that the P39.5-billion Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program be scrapped if it is found to be ineffective. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)