THE Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System (CCAPBS) will hold a prayer rally on June 12 to show their support in the fight against the pork barrel scam.
This was announced in a press conference by CCAPBS convenors Marc Canton of the business sector, Monsignor Rommel Kintanar of the Roman Catholic Church, Reverend Jessie Primacio of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and Ken Ecarma of Student Alliance for National and Democracy-University of San Carlos (Stand-USC).
File cases
Canton said that in that rally, they will urge the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Ombudsman and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to file criminal charges against all those involved, especially those with strong evidence against them.
They also urged government officials (senators, congressmen and their cohorts) who were already charged before the Ombudsman or the Sandiganbayan to resign.
They also urged the courts handling the pork barrel scam cases to fast-track their resolution and make sure that all those who will be found guilty should be jailed
without allowing hospital detention and any other form of special treatment.
On the issue that not all allocations for the Priority Development Assistance Fund went to the pocket of corrupt congressmen and senators because some lawmakers used to fund scholarships and hospitalization programs, Kintanar said that through this scheme, the PDAF has become tools for “patronage politics” and actions in “aid of reelection.”
Direct
Ecarma said that instead of a congressman or senator using pork barrel to fund scholarship and health care, the funds should be given directly to the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DOH).
Canton said the coming June 12 rally will be the first of many events leading up to the National Congress on Aug. 23, 2014.
“It is important that the Cebuanos show their solid support against the fight against the pork barrel scam,” Canton said.