PRESS RELEASE
June 9, 2014
`UP list’ shows reactive, inefficient gov’t action on pork barrel scam – UP profs
“The Aquino administration proves to be reactive and inefficient in handling the pork barrel scam.”
Concerned University of the Philippines (UP) faculty members made this conclusion during a press conference today (June 9) at the lobby of Vinzons Hall in UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Based on a “UP list” or timeline prepared by the UP Faculty Against Pork Barrel (UP FacPork), it appears that the scam which initially hogged the headlines in July 2013 remains largely unresolved due to government inaction. While President Noynoy Aquino made a public declaration the month after (August 2013) that it is high time to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), it was done mainly to placate growing unrest and had little impact in terms of necessary policy reforms.
“The current system of political patronage through budgetary allocations remain. The essence of PDAF still remains,” UP FacPork members stressed. They stressed that Aquino openly admitted last year the replacement of PDAF with a new mechanism when he said this in his speech: “[B]ubuo tayo ng bagong mekanismo upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng inyong mga mamamayan at sektor… Makakapagmungkahi ng proyekto ang inyong mga mambabatas, ngunit kailangan itong idaan sa proseso ng pagbubuo ng budget. (http://www.gov.ph/2013/08/23/pahayag-ni-pangulong-aquino-ukol-sa-abolisyon-ng-pdaf-ika-23-ng-agosto-2013/).”
They expressed dissatisfaction over the handling of the pork barrel scam and even accused Aquino himself of protecting embattled government officials Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. “It would be advisable for the officials currently in hot water to resign. This is not an issue of public opinion but also of delicadeza,” UP FacPork members said, adding that a full-blown and impartial investigation should be conducted to determine once and for all the extent of involvement of all parties, alliance with the Aquino administration notwithstanding.
To fulfill their role as social critics, the concerned UP professors said that they are duty-bound to join the mass actions in the months and years to come, particularly the one being organized on June 12 (Independence Day).
For verification and more details, please call Prof. Danilo A. Arao (UP Diliman Department of Journalism) at (0908) 866-2726.