SENATOR Panfilo Lacson disclosed at a press briefing on Monday that insertions by congressmen have stalled the budget hearings. We are not surprised. Pork barrel politics is still alive and kicking. The practice of pork allocations is even more prevalent this year because of next year’s midterm elections.
In 2013 the Supreme Court ruled that pork barrel is unconstitutional after allegations that Janet Lim-Napoles and several legislators siphoned public funds to bogus and ghost nongovernment organizations.
We are certain that congressmen are aware of the 2013 SC ruling yet they have continued the practice of allocating funds and projects to perpetuate their dynastic rule over their respective districts. Their mandate is to legislate laws, oversight and deliberation. Budget insertions by congressmen for their pet projects has the same effect on the entire fiscal process as with the previous practice of direct and blatant congressional pork barrel. Both practices strengthen political patronage where grave abuse of discretion most likely leads to graft and corruption.
It is not surprising that the public perceives Congress as a corrupt institution, filled with traditional politicians who earn their living through kickbacks, horse trading, and authoring laws for corporate interests. Obviously, our legislators are severely detached from the people that they rely more on sharing their loot of the national coffers to their constituents. It is a share in the public pie that only increases if they enjoy the good graces of the Executive branch.
The concrete needs of the people towards a holistic and genuine national development should be the primary basis in the allocation of government funds, not the selfish motives of politicians who label completed projects as part of their achievements. Credit should be accorded to where it is due – to no other than the taxpaying public who do not owe anything, not even utang na loob,” to these unscrupulous trapos.
Let us remind our legislators that the ink on the five-year old Supreme Court ruling has not dried. The righteous anger against the pork barrel is still alive and fresh on the people’s collective memory. If they fail to exercise prudence, this indignation by the voting population could be reflected in next year’s elections.
