Name: Manuel C. Diaz
City/State/Country: Antipolo City
IP Address: 180.191.148.90

Comments

Islas de Ladrones indeed I just left Leyte a week before the Yolanda super typhoon hit the area were I stayed for one month in Albuera south of Ormoc. I stayed there and organized a fishing cooperative we invested five million pesos on four fishing boats. And what an experience going fishing in the Leyte waters for one month and experiencing grass roots thievery. Once we cast our net it was surrounded by poachers who helped themselves to the fish inside the net. There was nothing we could do because according to our Captain, that is the practice in the area, grass root thievery.

Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

The main purpose of DAP & PDAF is for ghost or fake NGOs with ghost or pet projects & then quickly converted into ill-gotten wealth by crook politicians, trapos, & expert fixers like Napoles et al. It's a simple split: ex; 60 net for you & 40 net for me (nakaw sa nakaw). Not strictly followed or enforced, any amount exceeding P50 million is considered plunder; RA 7080 (Anti-Plunder Act). A lot of givers mean a lot of takers. Our president must be accountable with this mess. It's a puzzle that does not fit together. That's why poverty reduction is not working in the Phils. Corruption, stupidity, & greed has no limits with this system. It has to end now.

Name: GFJ
City/State/Country: California
IP Address: 67.188.19.40

Comments

Even the currently revealed secret DAP, previously only known by a chosen few administration lawmaker allies, by its heretofore secretive nature is anomalous, heightened by the revelation by senator Sexy. Compounded by prominent senators channeling their share of DAP to Janet Lim Napoles multi NGOs for kickbacks. Including the presidential funds in the billions, many times that of the PDAF, where to date, over P130 billion is unaccounted for. Billions of it disappeared and are unaccounted for. I think this more anomalous than PDAF or DAP, due to its sheer amount of billions compared to PDAF and DAP millions.

Name: mockingmaya
City/State/Country: taft avenue, manila
IP Address: 67.182.75.243

Comments

The PNL editorial reminds me of a scholar's argument that democratic government is a device for getting your hands on people's money, or voting yourself rich." It seems that Philippine democracy today can be conceived in terms of "illiberal democratic regime," which is constantly affected by climate change, corruption, poverty, illiteracy & globalization of modern slaves. In other words, Philippine democracy is like a democratic place for betrayal, violence, & suffering, not a place for job opportunities & human flourishing. A thinker once said: "Every generation has a smart people who think they can figure everything out, once and for all. We happen to be the generation that fell for it."

Name: Daniel B. Laurente
City/State/Country: Philippines
IP Address: 217.165.74.15

Comments

There are other corrupt practices being endured by the unsuspecting masses in particular the Pag-ibig Fund borrowers. Loan borrowers for house and lot are asked to sign blank papers of contract putting their signature at the side portion outside the typing area. Then to be told later that the loaned has been released to the contractor for the designated area already agreed by the borrower and the PF. Why release and inform later the borrower? Visit the raw structure built on the area then it is noticeable that the cost of involved is far less than the amount borrowed.

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: Gotham City
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

What is being emphasized in this article is the role of pork as political patronage and as an instrument in buying votes. What was not discussed are the alternatives or options to replace them. Pork is not evil as one would think if it serves as an economic stimulus. As an economic stimulus, it has a multiplier effect. There are many essential or necessary spending by government that everyone considers as pork. Scrapping the pork barrel because Napoles saw an opportunity to enrich herself is a short term remedy and simply a knee- jerk reaction. COME ON FOLKS THINK! Some form of evil must exist for good to prevail.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.157

Comments

“Passing legislation that will outlaw the Aquino administration’s pork barrel system will cost P750 million, according to the Empowered People’s Initiative and Reform Movement Alliance (ePIRMA) which held its people’s congress to find solutions and reforms against corruption in the country.” LINK Sanamagan sanamabits, ePIRMA is making it hard, if not impossible, to legislate the amendment versus the PDAF via the proposed PEOPLES’ INITIATIVE. Why not allow gathering of the required percentage of electorates for the proposed PEOPLES’ INITIATIVE via the INTERNET, which is usual in gathering “surveys”.?

Name: Maruya
City/State/Country: Baltao Paranaque
IP Address: 14.201.66.31

Comments

Please give respect to PNOY and we must trust him. He's the most hardworking of them all, with the good of the country as his priority. He also sincerely cares for his bosses but we got to help him instead of keep on putting him down. We got to help him pin down and put the selfish and heartless legislators to jail. Let us not let them get away and steal our hope and joy. Bible scripture: John10:10.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.157

Comments

The Senate investigation IN AID OF LEGISLATION, e.,g., the Napoles inquiry, discovered measures that can be adopted to avoid scams similar to the PDAF scam, e.g., bar the PDAF or similar item in the Budget. Prohibit the endorsement by the lawmakers or any official in the Executive branch of government of any project funded by the GAA for execution by any NGO. Repeal the law on confidentiality of bank deposits in the case of crime of Plunder of Public Funds. Restore the Death Penalty for the crime of Plunder and prescribe a mandatory period to be stated in the SC decision for the execution of the Death Penalty and that no executive clemency shall be extended to the convict. Penalize Judges for failing to decide the case within the time frame prescribed by the Constitution.

Name: Abet
City/State/Country: Manila
IP Address: 99.108.249.176

Comments

Why dynasties in politics even if the elected official is a MORON? Just for the PDAF interest and not the real job? I'm sure 1000%, NO PDAF, NO CANDIDATE will run for gov't. office.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.222

Comments

In G.R. No. 71977 February 27, 1987, the SC held that augmentation of savings under the Constitution is limited in application. i.e., “transfer may be allowed for the purpose of augmenting an item and such transfer may be made only if there are savings from another item in the appropriation of the government branch or constitutional body.” LINK Yet the DAP was used by Penoy to increase by P50 MILLION each the PDAF of Senatongs Judges to bribe and ensure the conviction of CJ Renato Corona in the Impeachment Trial. The DAP is truly unconstitutional, null and void and utilized by Penoy to commit the crime of bribery. It is not remote that Penoy will be made accountable for this malfeasance and misfeasance in office.

Name: Red Dragon
City/State/Country: Torrance
IP Address: 216.103.147.100

Comments

But being transparent..honest....or even putting your life (Benigno) will not work (God bless his soul) in the Philippines. It is like Jimmy Carter!!! (ex-US PRES)....good hearted...but nothin' doin' as a leader. Filipinos are pathetic...needless to say.... my unfortunate homeland...Philippines!!!!

Name: Manuel C. Diaz
City/State/Country: Antipolo City
IP Address: 180.191.148.90

Comments

The Philippines is really a thieving country look at what happened to the devastated Tacloban people looted the Gasiano super mall look at the contrast in Japan during the devastation of the super tsunami no reported looting. Look at our thieving politicians, listen to the President BS Aquino's speech " I am not a thief" sound's like President Nixon's "I am not a crook" ISLAS DE LADRONES RIDES AGAIN.

Name: Red Dragon
City/State/Country: Torrance
IP Address: 216.103.147.100

Comments

Same issue as the last one about CORRUPTION!!!!!!! Filipinos are corrupted... not just politicians..... churches as well. All walks of life in the Philippines are corrupt. No one loves nor cares Philippines as their homeland....No one. Filipinos are all corrupted...IT IS ME FIRST!!!!! No matter how transparent the Aquinos are.......... they are surrounded by the evildoers. AQUINOs are the good thing about the Philippines...

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.8

Comments

1:2 The PDAF is the allocation of public funds to lawmakers via the annual GENERAL Appropriation Act (GAA) to be disbursed by the Implementing Agencies but at the discretion of the lawmaker. This is a far cry from the job of the lawmaker which is to legislate laws. The power over the budget is exclusively under the Congress yet the power to allocate the PDAF is exercised by the President. THIS IS BASICALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, NULL AND VOID.

Name: Diego Talahib
City/State/Country: Malasia
IP Address: 70.74.233.240

Comments

Totally eliminating pork barrel for all elected and appointed official is a step in the right direction so that all expenditures will be subjected to proper check and balance and eliminate big source of corruption. But that would not be enough. Citizen must also stop forcing official to commit corruption. They must not solicit donations from politicians. After all where will theses politician get the money that they donate. They will have to recover whatever expenditures they made and with profit.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.8

Comments

2:2 The DAP, on the other hand, is the realignment of purported savings in the budget but utilized by the President to augment other budgetary items, e.g., the P50 MILLION bribe to each Senatongs Judges to ensure the conviction of CJ Renato Corona in the Senate Impeachment Trial, which is illegal, outside of the constitutional power of the President, and foremost, a crime. If Penoy is truly honest and leads a MATUWID NA LANDAS as the President, his insistence to retain PDAF and the DAP is not right. IT raises a lot of doubts.

Name: anthone
City/State/Country: austin,tx
IP Address: 99.190.130.41

Comments

For the first time, I hate to run counter to your latest editorial regarding the use of funds by government officials and the head of the nation, sadly is not exempted. That is tantamount to make the number one man an 'inutil' and with due courtesy to all, I'll be shouting on top of my voice "NO WAY SIR!" And to those who dare to bring a good man down, think several times before you act. I can bet my hard earned pesos, you will not succeed.

Name: Mr Gago
City/State/Country: Archipelago
IP Address: 38.96.24.131

Comments

Earthquake then super typhoon? Could be Devine revelation? Time to end immoral and unethical practices in public and private lives. God's precepts are publicly read on Sundays, but they are forgotten in everyday existence. Stealing and channeling aid to the needy in order to enrich oneself is despicable and criminal in heaven and on earth. Ethics, morality and piety maybe a relief.

Name: mockingmaya
City/State/Country: taft avenue, manila
IP Address: 67.182.75.243

Comments

The promise of Philippine democracy is not to build up great wealth for Filipino politicians through pork barrel scam, & to increase the luxury & ill-gotten wealth of the "House of Have." Do you think corrupt politicians deserve their riches? What they have done to earn them? It is not too late for President Aquino to deliver his presidential campaign promises: to deliver the promise of progress, justice, transparency & accountability to those who are trapped in poverty & victims of injustices (see unsolved Maguindanao massacre, elected white-collar criminals in Congress, etc.)

Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 67.244.141.97

Comments

tonyO: A staff member of Philippine Daily Inquirer must have read my entry that DAP is not PDAF because he wrote an opinion with the same headings. His explanations are identical to mine (except for the words) but the substance and thought are prapreho. Although it may not count (or may be it will) to the Supreme Court but I will not be surprised if they will see it the way I do because there is no other way. Abangan!

Name: anthone
City/State/Country: austin,tx
IP Address: 99.190.130.41

Comments

The proposal to abolish the PDAF, and all funds being use by government officials will just leave a bad taste on the mouth. What are they for? How could they perform their duties to the people who elected them ? How could we progress if due to foolish politics our nation will always be at the bottom of every state? I am still hoping that our 'great men' can find ways to remedy the situations, for if not, our proud Philippines will fall. What a big disgrace! May the Almighty forbids !

Name: JuanDomingo
City/State/Country: T.I.
IP Address: 108.38.131.228

Comments

Majority of the people wanted to stop pdaf including the president, my question, how r we going to take care of the nation's problem during calamity. Di po ba, may transparency naman ung pdaf fund ng presidente kung saan napupunta, porke po nagkaroon ng sira ung ibang prutas sa fruit basket, ta2pon na natin pati lalagyan which s mali. e2 na lng pong ehemplo kong nangya2ri, dapat pa bng eharap sa senado tong magnanakaw na 2, kung mahuhusay mga mambabatas natin, d nangyari tong anomalyang e2. c kahindikhindik na enrile, o kahit cnu sa kanila, noong nalaman ung whole schenario ng negosyo ng baboy na2, hinuli sana nla. at pinakulong kung gus2 nlang tulungan ung mga kababayang mahihirap, kaso mga lahi ni lolong, kahit tanong nyo c 1up. anong say mo dyan [IDOL]

Name: A. De guzman
City/State/Country: Los Angeles, CA, USA
IP Address: 76.89.238.99

Comments

Another matter that should be investigated are the Ynares Sports Centers around the province of Rizal. They are considered privately owned by the Ynares family. These sports centers were built on the lots owned by the Rizal government but because he was the governor of Rizal then, he was able to put up these structures. Look at the Ynares Stadium in Pasig City (formerly the Rizal Provincial Capitol). Kanino napupunta ang kinikita ng mga sports center na Ito, sa gobierno ba or sa bulsa ni Ynares? Shame on him.

Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SD,CA
IP Address: 107.217.12.124

Comments

The PNL editorial says, 'Get rid of all pork barrel funds for senators, congressmen, and the president." MY REACTION: I agree 100%. But I would like to add this: Require and mandate all existing NGOs & FOUNDATIONs for re-registration at SEC (securities and exchange com). Bidding by contractors and sub-contractors for implementation of a particular project should be made open to public & printed in at least 3 national papers & should be followed to the letter. Identifying and pinpointing of priority projects should be 'by region' with the cabinet sec of respective dept presiding & in coordination with local officials and constituents convening. No senator/congressman should be allowed to handle public funds!

Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

In the Phils kickback is part of a fee, gift, percentage, or commission. It's openly given, offered, & accepted. It's normal & SOP. Malversation is the ultimate misconduct in public office. However, plunder is the worst cuz it's plain robbery, pillaging, looting, & outright stealing. All of the above leads to dishonesty & lack of integrity & moral deterioration of our elected officials. This in turn leads to the ultimate perversion by our free-wheeling & reckless politicians using excessive amount of DAP & PDAF. It's tolerated & even considered a way of life in the Phils. It's a problem that needs an ultimate solution.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.147

Comments

MCD criticized penoy’s defense of his pdaf and the DAP with his line “I am not a thief". MCD is centerly correct. Binobola tayo ni Penoy. The point is PDAF and the DAP must be abolished because these are unconstitutional, null and void and the instruments used to steal public funds. No way Penoy! No more pdaf and dap.

Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SD,CA
IP Address: 107.217.12.124

Comments

I said 'no senator/congressman should be allowed to handle public funds.' Because by BANNING them to touch the so-called COOKIE JAR the Filipino voters will see less and less candidates vying for positions of Senatong and Tongressman. So that politicians 'without scruples' become discouraged to run for that office. Only those with noble intentions for public service would run for those offices. Zero credibility will make Congress crumbles like a house of cards so to speak. It decays by its own doing, or else someone or some group has got to burn it to the ground.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.147

Comments

What is abominable with pdaf is the discretionary power of the lawmakers in the disbursement of the pdaf. This is not the Constitutional duty of the lawmaker. This is the duty of the Implementing agency under the Executive Branch of the government. The lawmaker uses his discretionary power to extort tongpats from the contractor. Why Penoy insists with this evil in the appropriation act is very questionable? Is he on the take, too?

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.147

Comments

Penoy is on a campaign trail to explain the DAP to the public. What is abominable with the DAP, though, is it violates the Constitution on the use of savings to augment other budgetary items in the GAA, which is limited to savings and budgetary items of the same department. The SC already issued its decision on this issue as early as in 1987, as follows: i.e. “transfer may be allowed for the purpose of augmenting an item and such transfer may be made only if there are savings from another item in the appropriation of the government branch or constitutional body.” G.R. No. 71977 February 27, 1987

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

Question: What really was the pork barrel's constructive purpose for being? Will it help to uplift conditions of constituents in districts and areas where actual improvements are needed? Can the government afford to grant these entitlements without suffering a spending deficit? If yes, why suggest abolishing a good thing? What the gov' needs is strict monitoring, keen oversight, and transparent accountability from anyone trusted with such funding. Hey, there! Whoever ARE in charge of this monkey business ought to be shot before a firing squad composed of hardworking people.

Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 67.244.141.97

Comments

PNL: I disagree with the editorial author(s). Reforms not rid the PDAF are needed. Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damages brought by "Yolanda" needs fund. I mean this is the kind of situation that the PDAF were intended for but unfortunately they were stolen. Pinas haven't seen the last of natural calamities yet. PDAF is still needed in the future but not in the "business as usual basis". The Commission On Audit should be able to formulate a "safe" disbursement of PDAF that it can recommend to the Budget Management. BTW, DAP is not an item in the Budget. DAP is the ways and means for the Executive Branch to "expedite" the release of appropriations in the Budget. This is especially true with the president's discretionary fund. Now is the time that need is urgent after "Yolanda".

Name: frederik atulas
City/State/Country: Hayward, California
IP Address: 96.24.78.97

Comments

These pork barrels are intended for projects in the provinces and if they are used as planned these will create jobs and improve lives everywhere. So the issue is really how these porks are monitored once they are approved and released. Why don't we form a committee of independent, dependable and honest people empowered to audit, investigate and prosecute gov't officials involved in anomalies and bring these cases to a swift and fair conclusion?

Name: Komodo Dragon
City/State/Country: Lupa ng mga mayabang
IP Address: 64.40.183.70

Comments

So sez the editorial- "Legislators who sent their pork barrel funds to one of Napoles’s phony NGOs allegedly got back some of that money ‘under the table"- Oh really? And how was it possible that "phony NGO's" came to being and operate if there is no cooperation from those conniving Legislators? So the question arises-- who is the more guilty party here--the Legislators who were sworn in to serve the country or the opportunistic business woman who is the conduit for the scam? This is not to say that the "conduit" should not be prosecuted--- but to go after those sworn "Bantay Salakay" should be the immediate and primary target--- if the "Lupa ng mga Butiki slayer" is serious in cleaning up the system.!!

Name: Armando de Guzman
City/State/Country: Seoul
IP Address: 121.129.7.25

Comments

Janet Napoles and her cohorts must be punished to the full extent of the law. This is a heinous crime tantamount to grabbing the staple foods for the poor of the poorest member of our society. These people have no conscience and completely gone out within the sphere of the domain of God. The Senators, Congressman and government officials must be put into prison to serve as lesson to the next generation of government officials. Enrile, Estrada and Revilla must be summarily tried and put into prison for this crime against humanity when found guilty.

Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

Sen. Drillon is a man of contradiction. He recently said that DAP & PDAF is entirely constitutional with legal, proper, & ethical bounds. How come some senators want to avoid their allocations all together & others are joining the band wagon? DAP & PDAF is controversial & highly questionable. On the other hand, he's always boasting that he's the first to declare to abolish them. This august senator is also the one who didn't want Napoles to appear before the Blue Ribbon inquiry. Better clean up your act Mr. Senator. Urong-sulong...not.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.46

Comments

Phreng Deo: “tonyO: I believe the Supreme Court erred in 1987 when it declared PD 1177 of Marcos unconstitutional…” Adre, the SC decision is supreme which only the SC may reconsider. Read and learn from the SC decision that the President’s task is only to implement the law enacted by Congress. Under the Constitution on separation of powers, the power over the budget is exclusive to the Congress. The President cannot amend the budget. He can only implement it. Thus, the DAP, which allocated the PURPORTED budgetary savings to other budgetary items, i.e., to the Congressional pdaf, is unconstitutional, null and void and, also criminal act because it was used to bribe the Senatongs judges to convict CJ Corona during the Senate Impeachment Trial.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.46

Comments

How did Janet Lim Napoles successfully steal the PDAF funds via her Ghost NGOs? True the lawmakers endorsed their pdafs to these Ghost NGOs, but WHY DID THE DBM RECOGNIZE this as a valid endorsement, issued and released the funds therefor notwithstanding it’s payable to a private entity? Why did the Implementing Agency (IA) did not require the NGO to liquidate its receipt of the pdaf? Why the Resident COA auditor at the IA did not perform the routine audit for this disbursement of the PDAF for 2007 to 2009? These only mean that Napoles and these government officials conspired to steal the pdaf. All are guilty of the crime of Plunder.

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

Editor: Good write-upon this one. Good luck on whatever you want to accomplish, however. And whoever hatched this idea is tops at creating enemies in higher echelons of corruptness in the administration. Mind you, the seed of all evils has been planted and is thriving well on the very fertile minds of wrongdoers who may give way to one reform only to create other ways to recover their losses. We are wasting so much precious time talking as if this problem is only a play wherein words has no meaning in real life. Let's brainstorm on realistic and concrete, not wonderland, solutions.

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

The whole world may be listening and taking notes on all these underhanded transactions being committed by these administration's thieves and yet cannot or wouldn't put a finger on how to get rid of them or their malevolent practices. This is because there still some people who believe that public treasury's proven scammers like the woman in this picture are "just mere conduits", therefore, not as guilty as main source of the fraud. The only problem with that opinion is that any named main source/sources can pin the blame game on another 'mere conduit' until all culprits are exposed. A snapping believer lwith a knee-jerk reaction ike this one only contributes to the growing malfeasance bedeviling the current rotten, smelly status quo.

Name: Komodo Dragon
City/State/Country: Lupa ng mga Mayabang
IP Address: 64.40.183.70

Comments

There is a [someone] that can't seem to understand that Napoles is just a conduit and not the "big fish" that should be the real target of the current Pork barrel scandal. Being a "conduit" does not mean that she is innocent and should not be also prosecuted. BUT If the attention is all about conduit and not going after the "big fishes"- then the whole Pinoy nation is doomed collectively to be nothing but butiki slayers!!

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

A knee-jerk reaction! And wrong advice. If the pork barrel is meant for some worthwhile rural improvements and is affordable from the budget, what is it being faulted for? The problem is not the pork itself; it is the lack of oversight in the manner of its administration. Instead, get rid of the people who are deflecting the money to line up their own deep pockets.

Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: The title is get rid of all pork Barrel Funds, for Congressmen, Senators and the President.. I know the gist of what you are saying but the Pork Barrel for the President should not be included.. When a person has reached that Position( exceptions are the 2 immediate predecessors) It means he has attained wisdom that his Pork barrel is most of the time used for the general welfare of the the Filipino people.. Just look at the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda.. The President has enough discretionary funds to meet all the emergency needs of those who have been the victims of acts of God and natural calamities. The president can act immediately because he has the necessary funds.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.240

Comments

1 UP said “…Pork is not evil as one would think if it serves as an economic stimulus. As an economic stimulus, it has a multiplier effect….” Adre, what is bad and wrong with Pork Barrel or the PDAF system is the lawmaker usurps the power of the Executive Branch of government to implement the budget, in violation of the Constitution. Why? So he can get commission from the contractor, ala “Korean system” or magkano Korean” or para maulingan sa palayok. This thievery pure and simple. The lawmaker must never implement the budget. His duty is only to legislate budget to be implemented by the Executive Branch of government. The budget can remain the economic stimulus without the the implementation by the lawmaker.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.83

Comments

Anthone said “The proposal to abolish the PDAF, and all funds being use by government officials will just leave a bad taste on the mouth. What are they for? How could they perform their duties to the people who elected them?... Adre, you just don’t get it, don’t you? The problem with PDAF is the lawmakers discretion over its disbursement, which is a usurpation of the Executive Branch’s power to implement laws. WHY? Because the lawmaker gets commission or tongpats on the payments to contractors. Their duty to the people is to enact good laws rather than implement contracts, They usurp this executive power for the TONGPATS and nothing but the TONGPATS.

Name: Good Conscience
City/State/Country: U.S.
IP Address: 98.198.13.69

Comments

I have observed that all the problems of the Philippines from poverty, lack of education, underdevelopment, etc. are never remedied because it is through these problems the corrupt politicians (Senators, Congressmen, Govt. officers, police and military) are able to steal from the government coffers. Once all these problems are resolved, mawawalan na ng dilihensiya. Through pork barrel theft, kickbacks, and "lagays" that they are able to amass a lot of wealth without even working. Mga tamad at mga kriminal!!!

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.6

Comments

Jong Santiago said “More power to you all who are actively vocal about the rampant corruption in the country.. What is the president in power for if he doesn't use it? Or is he one of them now.” Yes. And why Penoy insists with the PDAF and the DAP, which are the source and cause of the PDAF/DAP SCAM? Why? The implication of his insistence is embarrassing.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.4

Comments

2:2 The Inquiry may result to legislations to abolish the PDAF, which is the culprit for the happening of this scam and may result to enactment of efficient and strict laws on the liquidation of disbursement of public funds for government projects. The Resident Auditors in the Implementing Agencies must be punished for failing to do the routine audit for the period 2007 – 2009. The lawmakers must account why they endorsed their pdaf to private entities and GHOST NGOs at that, the DBM and Implementing Agencies must account why they allowed the endorsement of the pdaf to such private entities without any safeguard against spurious endorsees.

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: Gotham
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

Arch Malonga: Whether the typhoon changes direction is not the key issue. Earthquakes could not be predicted. We have tracking system when it comes to storms or hurricanes asto their paths and intensities. What is apparently deficient is a national evacuation plan and coordinated relief operations. Simply put all relief goods must get into the hands of the victims and not in some warehouses of businesses. Rebuilding after the disaster is a huge challenge. The president's discretionary fund (pork) Is but some loose change. for this purpose is but some loose change.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.147

Comments

MCD said his cooperative could not prevent the thieves, as follows: “Once we cast our net it was surrounded by poachers who helped themselves to the fish inside the net. There was nothing we could do because according to our Captain, that is the practice in the area, grass root thievery.” Why surrender to anarchy? You can shoot and kill these sanamabits or demand for police protection! God protects those who help themselves, you know.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.147

Comments

UP or 1 UP said “…Scrapping the pork barrel because Napoles saw an opportunity to enrich herself is a short term remedy and simply a knee-jerk reaction. COME ON FOLKS THINK! Some form of evil must exist for good to prevail.” Adre, your take is myopic. The Pork Barrel or PDAF system is wrong because it empowers the lawmakers on the disbursement of the PDAF, which is unconstitutional because it usurps the power of the Implementing Agency of the Executive Branch of government to implement the budget. It gives the lawmaker the opportunity to extort tongpats from the contractor in conspiracy with the implementing agency.

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: Gotham City
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

I am offended by the editorial and others who agree in painting Pinoys and this country with one broad brush that we are a nation of thieves and rotten to the core. The members of Congress and other branches of government who violate the people's trust are but a small segment of the population of our entire working class. Let us separate the good from the bad elements of society and avoid calling pork as EVIL.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.147

Comments

Abet guaranteed with his “…I'm sure 1000%, NO PDAF, NO CANDIDATE will run for gov't. office.” Then better abolish the PDAF system to do away with corrupt lawmakers. Abet, there are lawmakers who do not avail of the pdaf, e.g., Senator Lacson.

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

Editor: Please send a serious FYI to the PI government that they should not let any Napoles kind, her connections, avid supporters in this forum, or close relatives be involved in millions of dollars of aid and materials for fear of it all being funneled and hoarded into their personal accounts, fake NGOs, and warehouses, hastily and conveniently constructed nearby. My real concern is, again, the very people who are entrusted to administer the equitable distribution of supplies to the suffering victims will be the same people who will shame the nation once again in the face of the whole world due to inborn greed like her kind. She may be dearly supported by the Wall Lizard, but she's co-equally guilty.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.143

Comments

As I See It, the pork barrel system was restored in 1990 by Ex President Corazon Aquino as COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT FUND (CDF) via a law enacted by Congress rather than via the 1987 Constitution. In 2000 it was renamed as Priority_Development_Assistance_Fund (PDAF).

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

[Someone] spoke again insisting that Napolese, by now a known criminal though not incinerated yet but that's coming soon, is "just a mere conduit" in some tricky and unconscionable scam wherein the public's money was illegally funneled to her personal wallet. Logically, before a "conduit" can accept current or juice to flow through it, it must be "installed" and positioned correctly by "people of expertise". In her case, of course, being fully aware of the scheme she absolutely agreed to be used but for a sizable percentage of the loot. In any way one look at it, her full cooperation and acquiescence to a premeditated crime of greed, she's an absolute accessory to a crime and as guilty as any other scamming conspirator. If someone is hanged, she must be lynched, too.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: Pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.230

Comments

Jong Santiago said: How are these corrupt officials able to get their hands on the money, here in North America, sure there are corrupt officials too, but no way they can amass so much ill gotten money and get away with it. What is the president in power for if he doesn't use it? Or is he one of them now.” Adre, the culprit is the law on confidentiality of bank deposits used as the refuge of ill gotten wealth. In North America, particularly the USA. Banks periodically submit to the IRS a bank deposit statement of all depositors. My nephew working with a US bank once told me so. But not so in Pinas. The Ombudsman is in charge of monitoring government officials’ ill gotten wealth. But it has no power to inquire into bank deposits.

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

It's no dramatic ploy to decry proven willful conspiracy in fraudulent schemes the primary purpose of which is to milk the government of funds and funnel such into personal wealth, stolen wealth. Shame on those with oblique reasoning and think that such malevolent crime must be treated only lightly and blame must be placed on some other else who are illogically being presumed to be MORE GUILTY than this Napoles co-conspirator. Such presumption is the main source of inspiration of past and present would-be and budding criminals being home-grown, cocooned, protected, and disguised as public servants.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.170

Comments

JRH, the ultimate solution you want against the evil of the PDAF and the DAP systems can be achieved via a law enacted by Congress or else by the ongoing campaign to prohibit it thru a law enacted via the Constitution’s PEOPLES’ INITIATIVE. The DAP is already covered by a 1987 SC decision albeit violated by Penoy’s administrative erroneous interpretation. This issue is presently under adjudication by the SC. The Court will stop penoy’s illegal application of the Constitution.

Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 67.244.141.97

Comments

tonyO: I'm not picking just you; I'm picking on everybody who don't understand (who have not taken Public Finance in kindergarten, I guess) PDAF. You just can not parrot what others are clamoring: "abolish PDAF and including even the "innocent" DAP. PDAF was misused, misapplied and misunderstood by the Congress members. It is supposed to financed their pet projects for the benefits of the communities they represent, period. But as everybody, including babies, knew already no projects can be presented in stead bulging pockets of politicians and sham operators of govt. agencies and NGOs. If it will be abolish, where are they going to get the ready made fund to financed different projects (sans G&G but honest to goodness projects)?

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

[Someone's] description of Napoles' involvement in this fraud as a passing nonchalant stance is actually setting foot on a dangerous and unfamiliar territory held by thick-skinned hoodlums. Aiding and abetting a criminal act is akin to committing the same crime the suspect is being accused of. Even people who considered themselves normal can display single-mindedness and when embarrassed turn pale looking at the mirror LOL at themselves.

Name: anthone
City/State/Country: austin, tx
IP Address: 99.190.130.41

Comments

(Someone) commented on my say regarding the PDAF and also the SAF of today as if he know almost everything. Regarding your frequent use of "link", I presume you are a 'bar' member. Now, kindly tell me something about pork barrel: its origin and its significance and ....what is it all about ? tsk-tsk-tsk. Tell us also why it is only now, because of the accidental discovery of a scam that you are voicing your objections as regards to the dispensations of funds for priority developments and perhaps needed advancements of the nation ? I am eager to hear 'sensible comments' from you, Atty.

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

That's how Filipinos got into this current mess. The wrong idea crimes committed by certain people are less weightier than others and, therefore, should be treated as such. But a crime committed is a crime; the size, shape, and color of which matters not and must bear the corresponding force of the law broken. Napoles is tettered, bullet-proofed, and in the cross-hairs of those fearful men and women whom she conspired with. A "mere conduit" turned clueless due to be exposed, bare-naked, and short-circuited.

Name: Komodo Dragon
City/State/Country: Lupa ng mga Mayabang
IP Address: 64.40.183.70

Comments

If they succeeded to jail the "conduit" Napoles but not those who are the Bantay Salakay (- the legislators)-- then there will be no improvement at all for the country-- it is going to be just another case of catching a butiki cutting off the tail and letting the butiki go--- just for the tail to regenerate! And Voila-- we will have another Don Quixote trying to slay a windmill with hot air!

Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 67.244.141.97

Comments

tonyO: Humihina yata ang kokote mo 'adre! DISBURSEMENT ACCELERATION PROGRAM (DAP). Do you understand the meaning of ACCELERATION? of PROGRAM? The obviousity as clear as mud! This is now the time that DAP is urgently needed as I posted it for umptenth times! If you still don't get it, 'YOLANDA" is the code word! You want Tongress to create a law appropriating fund for relief?! Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?! Where as with his presidential discretionary fund through DAP he can write a check (actually order Budget Management, hehehe) to release the necessary fund. Don't be misled by that "alleged" bribe through DAP to convict Corona. There's no truth to that. You got that!

Name: Komodo Dragon
City/State/Country: Lupa ng mga Mayabang
IP Address: 64.40.183.70

Comments

Watch the ball kiddo!!!--Napoles is just a "conduit" for those big players (Legislators) to ply their shady deals. They are happy that attention and all eyes are more directed in her direction. That means the people are being "entertained" with her helpless look while the like of Enrile, Estrada, Revilla and the rest of the stinking horde are very quietly in the shadow unscath (so far) . Going after Napoles but not those legislators who got their kickbacks--is no reform action at all.

Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 67.244.141.97

Comments

TonyO: Firstly, let me clear this up with you. Your insinuation that he might be in the take, too of PDAF and/or DAP is unfair to Aquino. Every project, every disbursement is supposed to be far reaching benefits for the people: employment/job opportunities, intra-province trade, low commodity prices etc. So govt. agencies and NGOs are supposed to handle these. But we know already the opposite are the results. So until a new and graft- proof formula is produced, the president whoever he may be will have to make do with the current formula of dispensing the budget. Of course the president, as I said before, may write himself a check and that's the end of that discretionary fund. Give Aquino the benefit of the doubt. He probably meant honesty in the DAP in his actions.

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingsbridge
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

Logic must tell [us] that when a group of gangsters commit a crime, anyone in the pack's pecking order is a person of interest and is as guilty as anyone else, that's that. There is no such thing as MORE guilty or LESS guilty. In the Napoles case, the woman permitted herself to be willingly used for a fat fee, therefore, her act is tantamount to "prostituting" herself. Lest anyone be beguiled by her repeated "I don't know" stance which make her even (MORE) guiltier by perjuring herself in a court of law. And only a "prostitute" who also knows all the tricks of trading the body can offer words of appeasement to a fellow "prostitute".

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.187

Comments

“MANILA, Philippines—Two senators have proposed taking varying amounts from President Aquino’s discretionary funds in the P2.268-trillion 2014 national budget to cobble together a multibillion-peso rehabilitation fund for the areas destroyed by Super typhoon “Yolanda” and other recent calamities. Cery clear. More than P2 Trillion PRESIDENTIAL DISCRETIONARY FUND is available in the GAA to take care of a few billions required to rehabilitate the devastation wrought by typhoon Yolanda. The suggestion of some penoy people to use the pdaf and the dap for this calamity, which are legally questionable, is clearly off tangent. “LINK

Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SD,CA
IP Address: 107.217.12.124

Comments

TONYO said, "the pork barrel system was restored in 1990 by Ex President Corazon Aquino as COUNTRY-SIDE DEVELOPMENT FUND (CDF) via a law enacted by Congress rather than via the 1987 Constitution." Thank you Tonyo, but I would like to know what senate bill was this created? Or was this law initiated at the Lower House, then pass up to the Senate? Please provide info as to its senate bill # if this is really a law. Thanks.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.246

Comments

Phreng Deo, “If it [the PDAF and the DAP] will be abolish, where are they going to get the ready made fund to financed different projects (sans G&G but honest to goodness projects)? Adre, you just understand, don’t you. Congress appropriates the budget, i.e., the public works or project you’re talking about. Tongressmen may appropriate public funds for these projects without the PDAF, BUT WITHOUT THE LAWMAKERS’ RETAINING DISCRETIONARY POWER OVER ITS DISBURSEMENTS. ITO ANG NINANAKAW NILA. WITHOUT THIS POWER, NO MORE THIEVERY VIA PDAF.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.28

Comments

Phreng Deo said “…If you still don't get it, 'YOLANDA" is the code word! You want Tongress to create a law appropriating fund for relief?!...” Adre, the PDAF is the discretionary power of the lawmakers over its disbursement which is unconstitutional and also the cause of corruption. The DAP is the unconstitutional use of savings to augment other budgetary items of the respective branches of government is already covered by the 1987 SC decision. The repeal of the lawmaker’s discretionary power on the disbursement of the PDAF will prevent the misuse of the pdaf. Why do you insist on the misuse of the pdaf by lawmakers. Compliance with the SC decision on the DAP is mandatory. What’s wrong with you?

Name: tonyo
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.201

Comments

The 2004 General Appropriation Act (GAA) under R.A. No. 9206 authorized PDAF without express provision that it shall be used and disbursed with the direct participation of the lawmakers unlike the old CDF. The SC sustained the constitutionality of this GAA because the PETITIONER FAILED TO PROVE THAT LAWMAKERS ACTUALLY RECEIVED AND DISBURSED THE PDAF. LINK However, the P10 BILLION Napoles PDAF SCAM disclosed that lawmakers endorsed their PDAF to Ghost NAPOLES NGOs, hence, illegal. Why did the Implementing Agencies and the DBM allowed these illegal endorsements?

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: Gotham City
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

I don' t understand why suddenly everybody wanted to scrap "congressional pork " and even the discretionary fund of the president because of the genius of Janet Napoles. Unless the government has specific agencies to deal with natural disasters, poverty and hunger, etc, similar to FEMA or SNAP in the US, we will always be rendered helpless and dysfunctional.

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: Gotham City
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

If we hated pork barrel and consider discretionary funds (PDAP or DAP) as unconstitutional, it is about time to allocate the use of taxpayers money for natural disasters and hunger and poverty, etc. Then create an agency to handle the use of these funds with a well defined role and accountability. Pinoys are obsessed with writing plans but failing miserably in the execution phase.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.40

Comments

I was shocked to learn that the allocation and disbursement of the PDAF IS ACTUALLY EXTRA LEGAL. There is no law supporting this Congressional practice. LINK In fact the Supreme Court held in 2012 that the lawmakers may not exercise power over this public funds. It’s unconstitutional. LINK Yet, Congress and the DBM freely disbursed and even stole this funds over the years, e.g., the P10 BILLION PDAF SCAM. All concerned, i.e., the lawmaklers, the DBM, Implementing Agencies, et al, and COA resident auditors are guilty for misuse of the PDAF, including the crime of Plunder.

Name: mockingmaya
City/State/Country: taft avenue, manila
IP Address: 67.182.75.243

Comments

RE: Phil. Supreme Court poised to rule pork barrel as unconstitutional. I do believe that no society can exist if its citizens will no longer obey the laws or rules. In other words, if the Filipino people will stop caring about "commonsense justice, then respect for the legal system has no essence. This is one of the reasons why the Filipino people are alienated from authority. The Supreme Court, as a guardian of the Constitution, must be impartial in resolving the discrepancy between the laws & Filipino people's sense of justice. If the decision or proceeding of the Supreme Court would be impartial & treated with respect, I do believe that the Filipino people would be willing to accept the verdict even when it went against them.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
Remote Name: 114.108.222.68

Comments

Yehey! News reports disclosed that the Supreme Court just voided as unconstitutional the PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND (PDAF) also known as the Congressional Pork Barrel system, which was the allocation of public funds for discretionary appropriation and disbursement of lawmakers, which is basically a usurpation of the executive function of the Executive Branch of government, hence, unconstitutional. At last wala ng nanakawin ang mga lawmakers in the guise of service to their constituents. It took the P10 BILLION NAPOLES PORK BARREL SCAM para mtauhan ang Korte Suprema.

Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SD,CA
Remote Name: 107.217.12.124

Comments

NEWS ITEM: PDAF UNCONSTITUTIONAL! LINK The Supreme Court also ordered the prosecutorial arm of gov't to investigate and file criminal charges against public officials who have been milking the supposedly impoverished country! Prosecuting these well-entrenched THIEVES is really a tall order in this country. Will Enrile, Drilon, Estra-da, Revilla, Lapid, et al ever go to jail?

Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
Remote Name: 67.244.141.97

Comments

tonyO: Release of PDAF have always been legal. It's where it ended is illegal! When the senatongs and tongressman request the release of fund for their "pet" projects, that request is above board but if no finished projects or say legit beneficiaries exist then that's another story.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
Remote Name: 114.108.222.59

Comments

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata! After the PDAF doctrine, the Supreme Court will rule that the DAP, which under the Constitution is the use of savings in the budget to augment other budgetary item/s in the budget of the same department, is null and void because there is no law enacted by Congress. DBM’s administrative implementation of the Constitution is a usurpation of the exclusive power of of Congress to enact laws.

Name: Botete
City/State/Country: Lupa ng mga Mayabang
Remote Name: 64.40.183.70

Comments

SCourt ruling declared PDAF as unconstitutional -- "All informal practices of similar import and effect, which the Court similarly deems to be acts of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of discretion,” are also declared void." (PDI - Nov. 19-)-- PUT stress on " grave abuse of discretion"-- There you go mga butiki slayer go after those who committed the "grave abuse of discretion" ( read= the big fishes) --- for once get your priorities right! Hinto muna ang pa-drama at pa-hangin rito!!

Name: mockingmaya
City/State/Country: taft avenue, manila
Remote Name: 67.182.75.243

Comments

RE: The Philippine Supreme Court declared PBF unconstitutional. Educational Psychology 101 will educate corrupt & greedy Filipino politicians that the action of an individual human being is said to be driven by extrinsic reasons, for example, when a Filipino decides to run for political office because he or she is motivated by pork barrel scam as an extrinsic reward for manipulating the weakness of democratic ballot box. Of course, there are Filipino people who aspire for public service because they are intrinsically motivated to engage in public service for its own sake. What motivates a Filipino actor, who is devoid of moral-ethical standard of character like Lito Lapid (see Senator Lapid's comment when his wife was arrested in Nevada.)

Name: Dragonslayer
City/State/Country: Kingbridge
Remote Name: 72.5.190.173

Comments

Decision to scrap the "pork barrel" might do some good to the Treasury, but please don't let loose those greedy foxes to roam and set foot in our "chicken coop".

Name: blumntrit
City/State/Country: Napoles kids charge
Remote Name: 68.197.152.111

Comments

Janet should build a new prison named Napoles Discovery penitentiary using the stolen millions - by the time all set and done and they are convicted, the whole Napoles crook family will have a new home with special cells for their friends senatongs and tongressmen. It would be good if madam warden Miriam will be in charge so she could held Tanda in the solitary confinement 4x4 cell.

Name: Marie
City/State/Country: Batangas
Remote Name: 178.115.0.150

Comments

Ok the Pdaf is unconstitutional... good that was abolished. Lets say the DAP will be abolished, how can the president move? He's responsible in his country and in time of emergencies, projects etc. where would the president immediately get? The DAP is good as long as it is in good hand. And that is legal.

Name: Arch.Lito L. Mallonga
City/State/Country: Pinas Ating Mahal
Remote Name: 24.84.220.179

Comments

Finally SC made its final decision on the Pork Barrel its illegal and I am sure that the DAP will be called the same. Itong DAP talagang hindi na dapat palampasan kung sino ang pasimuno nito. Dapat ikulong dahil kung hindi tuluy tuluy pa rin. This FUNDS would have been used sa mga nasalanta ng bagio at lindol sa atin at hindi tayo naghihintay ng tulong sa labas. Madali sana itong naharap agad ang pagagaylangan eh kasi ang laging iniisip ng ating mga leaders tutal darating mga relief goods at pera sa ibat ibang bansa. Diyan tayo magaling at alam na natin ito. Keep aside politics na muna. Huwag nating gawin at pag handaan ito sa 2016 dahil matagal pa ito.

Name: Arch.Lito L. Mallonga
City/State/Country: Pinas Ating Mahal
Remote Name: 24.84.220.179

Comments

cont... It is so sad itong sinasabi ko gayon sa inyong lahat hindi lang dito sa Forum kung hindi sa pangkalahatan na. We can not blame anybody now. Dapat mawala na itong pag aaway ng Marcos at Aquino dahil tayong lahat apektado dito. Hindi naman masama ang lahat ang Remuldez sa Layte sa tingin ko. Kung masama ang Mayor ng Leyte eh hindi siya ibinoto ng mga tao ng Tacloban. Masyado ng garapal ang politika sa atin. Mga tinatawag na HONORABLE na siyang naguigorakot ng kaban ng ating bansa ay dapat hindi na ito maka upo sa darating na election. This is a learning lesson to all. Vote Buying will be the biggest one that we will all learn as those who do it will surely see to it that they get back not double but 4 times on what they have spend. Iyan ang katotohanan.

Name: mockingmaya
City/State/Country: taft avenue, manila
IP Address: 67.182.75.243

Comments

I do believe that the Philippine Supreme Court's decision on PDAF has a positive impact on President Aquino's regime. The SC decision can be considered as a golden opportunity to upgrade the caliber of President Aquino's political leadership. The Filipino people want to take a peek at how President Aquino's administration handles its setbacks. Do you think President Aquino's administration will bounce back or wallow into the abyss of despond? It is common knowledge that the ability to achieve statesmanship is based on President Aquino's ability to accept constructive criticism of failure.

Name: What a shame!
City/State/Country: usa
IP Address: 108.233.145.10

Comments

Bong (magnanakaw) Revilla said that w/ PDAF mas marami sanang matutulongan. That's true but this M/F senator forgot to say that mas marami rin sanang manakaw at mapunta sa bulsa niya if PDAF continues. Estrada also says that they will be ready to face the music. Well, senators be super ready when Sandigan Bayan sends your warrant of arrests because as you know damn well that you need your PAMAYPAY. See, you'll be away from your million mansions. So, go ahead, SMILES YOU SOBs. Your time is coming up hopefully you'll be spending Christmas in your honorable cells. How can you be called honorable if you're crooks?

Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SD,CA
IP Address: 107.217.12.124

Comments

NEWS ITEM: LABOR GROUP FILES PORK SCAM RAPS VS. TUPAS, VILLARS! My Reaction: Niel Tupas may have the last laugh in railroading the Articles of Im-peachment vs. Corona and successfully prosecuted the former CJ but lately he may have been having sleepless nights as concerned citizens have filed PLUNDER CHARGE against him. So with Manny Villar and his wife! To recall Manny Villar was able to escape the arm of the law in C5 elliptical stretch of road that benefits his real estate business BUT now he may be having NIGHTMARES as to handle PLUNDER charge against him. LINK

Name: Komod Dragon
City/State/Country: Lupa ng mga Mayabang
IP Address: 64.40.183.70

Comments

PDI Nov. 21- news item - "An investigative team of the Office of the Ombudsman has named Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile as the mastermind of the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam—not businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, according to official documents obtained by Inquirer." Well of well! Some here want the "conduit" to be the center of attention and target but not the BIG Fish!! Tama na ang pa-hele hele pa! Napoles learned her trade from and coached by Tanda!

Name: mockingmaya
City/State/Country: taft avenue, manila
IP Address: 67.182.75.243

Comments

I do believe that the Philippine Supreme Court's declaration, "pork barrel is unconstitutional, will serve as a clear message for those who will aspire to be legislatures that Philippine Congress is not a democratic institution (or a ship if you will) for plunderers or thieves or pirates of pork barrel funds, as opposed to this phrase: "that piracy on rare occasion is the right course of action..." (see a comment on Capt. Jack in a movie "The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pear".)

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.19

Comments

Some tongressmen said that Penoy has discretionary funds to give to tongressmen, hence, he won’t be a lame duck president for the remainder of his term. Wrong! The SC also held that all discretionary funds of the President are unconstitutional because it is appropriation of public funds by the President “in violation of the principle of non-delegability of legislative power."

Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SD,CA
IP Address: 107.217.12.124

Comments

NEWS ITEM: ENRILE is the unseen hand in Pork Scam, according to Assistant Ombudsman Joselito Fangon. LINK But according to 89 year old political savvy he is 'ready to face the music.' I am inclined to believe that this Trapo could or would not allow himself to be incarcerated if he is convicted. He would rather die holding an Uzi submachine-gun than being put behind bars. He is armed to the teeth in & outside home. According to Miriam there are even men with high-powered rifles guarding him whenever he has urges going to the bathroom in the Senate. Beside he still has some strong connections in the military. OMG!

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.88

Comments

Penoy’s MULTIBILLION PESO Presidential Social Funds (PSF) come from the President’s percentage share from the revenue of PAGCOR and the PCSO, and also his SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS which are disbursed at will because these are not part of the General Appropriation Act (GAA), i.e., the budget. This means these are discretionary funds because appropriated and disbursed at the President’s will, hence, following the Supreme Court decision in the case of PDAF constitute undue delegation of legislative power since the power to appropriate public funds is exclusive to the Congress, hence, UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.88

Comments

Phreng Deo said “tonyO: Release of PDAF have always been legal. It's where it ended is illegal!...” Adre, why did the DBM, the Implementing Agencies and the resident COA auditors allow the release of public funds for implementation of government projects to non government organizations? And ghost NGOs at that! You call this legal?

Name: Arch.Lito L. Mallonga
City/State/Country: Pinas Ating Mahal
IP Address: 24.84.220.179

Comments

Ito ang gusto kong malaman gayon. Sabit is Bombong Marcos sa Pork Barrel di ba. Well, kung talagang may pera ang mga Marcos hindi na ito kukuha ng kahit isang kusing hindi ba. Pag isipin natin ito. Lacson walang Pork Barrel na tinatangap. So that's means kailangan ni Bombong dahil hindi makagagalaw at maybalak pang tumakbo bilang Presidente sa 2016. Hindi na dapat umupo ang mga Marcos at gayon din mga Aquino sa pinakamataas na position sa gobyerno natin. Pag bigyan iyong nararapat at sana bagong mukha na ang ilalagay at scrap itong pamilya pamilya na.

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: GOTHAM CITY
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

Arch Mallonga: The pork barrel is carved out of the national budget. It is appropriated by Congress that is mandated by the constitution as the sole branch of government to hold the purse and not by anyone else. Pork barrel system exists in many countries and has never been rendered unconstitutional. Why are we the only country in this world that looks so asinine? We have a cerebrally challenged Supreme Court. What is wrong with the system is the genius of other people to rig the system and the government's sheer lack of transparency and accountability. We need those government funds as in rebuilding the country after the aftermath of Yolanda and all other natural disasters in the future.

Name: Temple Soldier
City/State/Country: Invisible College
IP Address: 72.5.190.173

Comments

Blumentrt: I'm with you in your comments to perpetuate non-stop the Napoles fraud case. Now even her kids, shamefully, are also blood money beneficiaries. It's no wonder if some overseas dragons have also benefited from the heist. Such deeds of crime and, of course, names of these notorious characters and perpetrators, including REAL NAMES (not hiding posts) of their backers and supporters must become significant and permanent record of the nation's history as a warning all future would-be criminals.

Name: Gene
City/State/Country: Ontario
IP Address: 184.148.33.254

Comments

There is NO PLUNDER case filed yet against the 3 senators. What can you say Mr. Law-erring, Natural borne Filipino and Natural borne U.S.? From a Canadian citizen i.e. naturalized Canadian and a natural borne Filipino.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.138

Comments

Under certain special laws, the President have discretionary powers over certain off budget (GAA) items called President Social Funds (PSF) and President Special Purpose Funds. LINK These are similar to PDAF in the sense that they empower the President over the appropriation and disbursement of the public funds, hence, unconstitutional as undue delegation of legislative power.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.138

Comments

Looks like Janet Lim Napoles begun her Pork Barrel Scam via her ghost NGOs as early as 2002 where the modus is the lawmakers endorsed his pdaf for implementation by NGOs, which are private entities who never actually implemented the pdaf project. I can’t imagine sobra ang lakas ng loob ni Napoles and the lawmakers to believe na lulusot ang krimen. How come the crime was not discovered until year 2013, or after 11 years. This would not have happened had the Implementing Agency, mostly the Department of Agriculture, and the resident COA auditors required the liquidation of the PDAF. Looks like they conspired to steal this public funds since 11 years ago. The nerve, I should say.

Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re. PDAF.. Declared Unconstitutional by the Ph Supreme Court..The pork barrel system wouldn't end.. It will come back under a new legislation supposedly with more teeth on how to prevent the Pretenders from scheming but so long as there are pretenders.. people who are well spoken but in their hearts they have sinister plans on how to make money.. there will still be a reincarnation of the likes of Janet Napoles. I bet even now there are still unpublicized schemes.. maybe even using those money and relief goods from the super typhoon. People die because corrupt officials are in office only thinking on how to make money out of their position.. What a calamity!

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.143

Comments

With the SC decision that the PDAF is unconstitutional, Marie said “how can the president move?... The DAP is good as long as it is in good hand. And that is legal.” Marie, 1st, without the PDAF, penoy can ask Congress for a law to finance the rehabilitation of the devastated localities. 2nd, and foremost, as unconstitutional, PDAF has never been a good system for the simple reason that it is null and void and invalid.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.191

Comments

PDI news report said Sen. Enrile is the mastermind of the Napoles PDAF scam, citing a purported report from the Ombudsman, which Ombudsman Morales denied. Looks like there is a plan to incriminate Enrile to the crime. As Malcolm X once said the media is very powerful – it can make the guilty innocent and the innocent guilty. Sen. Miriam Santiago already postulated that the reported mastermind, Janet Napoles, can qualify as a state witness since she’s not the most guilty, hence can escape prosecution though Enrile contended it was endorsed by his his Chief of Staff, Gigi Reyes who is now a fugitive. Tsk tsk this is dangerous. Marcos tried to incapacitate Enrile during martial law but Marcos was himself incapacitated and dethroned from power by military coup d'état.

Name: GFJ
City/State/Country: California
IP Address: 67.188.19.40

Comments

Now that the Supreme court struck down the lawmakers' PDAF as unconstitutional, the long queue of people at Batas Pambansa, wanting to speak with their congressman for funds, have dramatically shrunk. Lawmakers are instructed by the high court that they can't even avail of the remainder of their undistributed PDAF. No more lawmakers source of corruption. Now they can concentrate on their job.., law crafting.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.108

Comments

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. expressed concern yesterday over reports that the Ombudsman is under pressure to elevate the plunder complaint against them before the Sandiganbayan before yearend… LINK Jinggoy will surely go to jail if the arrest warrant is issued by the Court because it finds PROBABLE CAUSE to the complaint. He better pray that there’s no probable cause against him. Well, he endorsed his pdaf to Napoles ghost NGOs and, per the whistle blowers, received the payola which are documented with bank records. He should know the consequences of his crime. Hehehe

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.108

Comments

The DAP is unconstitutional. The Constitution restricts that only items in the general appropriations law allocated for the respective offices of President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the heads of Constitutional Commissions, may be augmented by its own savings. But the DAP used the savings of other departments to augment the budget of other departments, e.g., it augmented the PDAF of Senatongs to bribe them to convict CJ Corona during the Senate Impeachment Trial. Double illegalities at that.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: Pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.108

Comments

“Binay told local businessmen and newsmen during a press conference here last Wednesday that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was wrong when he USED THE SAVINGS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FOR THE SO-CALLED DAP. THESE SAVINGS SHOULD ONLY BE FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE RESPECTIVE AGENCIES AS THEIR SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.” LINK Elementary my dear Watson! What’s wrong with Penoy’s legal advisers? This is clear in the Constitution! Stop it and apologize for your mistake, sanamagan sanamabits.

Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.229

Comments

Penoy may possibly be impeached for his Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) which is the unconstitutional use of savings in the Budget. LINK Penoy’s men are reportedly coordinating with the Supreme Court justices to rule in favor of the DAP. They are reportedly trying to influence the Court’s decision to avoid the impeachment charge. Is this allowed? Is this not contempt of court? I heard bawal na bawal kausapin outside the Court ang mga Justices for a favorable decision.

Name: 1 UP
City/State/Country: GOTHAM CITY
IP Address: 72.229.243.105

Comments

People in elective congressional seats do not seek that office because of the lure of pork barrel. Only a handful of them (congress people) rig the system using a third party like Janet Napoles. Pork barrel is congressional allocation included in the national budget that is meant to buy political patronage (local projects for specific congressional districts). Many countries allow pork barrel to exist and it has never been considered as evil and unconstitutional. Many of us demonized the system as if it were all evil (becaue of Napoles alone?) without no offer of an alternative plan to replace it. TOO JUDGMENTAL!

Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: Headline : Asian Journal..Los Angeles- Jinggoy , Bong worried over arrest. Senators Jinggoy Estrada & Ramon Revilla Jr expressed concern on Nov 22, 2012 over reports that the Ombudsman is under pressure to elevate the plunder complaint against them to the Sandiganbayan..You don't have to worry if the charges are baseless..but you know Janet Napoles is a real person.. and the amount involved is large enough for Plunder.. During trial the accused have to be detained.. that is the law which you senators passed. Fortunately for the Filipino people senators are also covered by the law