IT SHOULD be clear by now that pork barrel goes to waste if it is wrongly spent.
Misspending comes in various forms but most blatantly and outrageously when it is released as help for the poor but pocketed by swindlers using bogus organizations.
Current uproar over P10 billion lost to thieves focuses light on "bad pork," or "botcha" in market lingo for diseased meat.
In the past, there were reports of public funds diverted to private pockets, though in smaller amounts, through the pork barrel. Close to home was the NGO set up by a congressman to siphon funds for rice fertilizers.
The congressman even included the name of his driver as a foundation trustee. He couldn't claim innocence. Could the five senators and 23 congressmen whose pork provided almost P10 billion to a single cabal of swindlers allege they didn't know?
Pork is usually given for reason of friendship or politics. But the diligent and honest member of Congress imposes safeguards and monitors spending. When the grant ran to several millions of pesos, close to a billion for Sen. Bong Revilla, and was stolen, the legislators (a) disregarded caution, (b) were being dumb, or (c) colluded with the swindlers.
Just as criminal
Reckless negligence could be just as criminal as plotting the fraud with the gang that pulled what they now call "the mother of all scams." They helped make the pork look and smell bad.
Unless Congress sets up tighter control, with bigger responsibility by the senator or House member, public clamor for abolition of pork barrel may grow louder.
(paseares@sunstar.com.ph)