MANILA, (PNA) — Malacanang reiterated that the overall focus of the administration is accountability on the use of public funds particularly with regards to the issue of P10-billion pork barrel scam.
“Wala po kaming particular na focus sa mga specific events na ganyan dahil napakarami ng inaasikaso ngayon lalung-lalo na iyong proseso ng pagto-to hold accountable iyong pong mga pinaghihinalaang lumustay ng pondo ng bayan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
The Senate issued a subpoena on Monday summoning alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to testify before the chamber’s blue ribbon committee on November 7.
Coloma said the Palace has no special pre-occupation on any person or event and it’s up to the lawmakers to deal with Napoles’s in the Senate inquiry.
Whatever the course of the investigation, he said the Palace will pursue the accountability process from the Ombudsman to the Sandiganbayan on those involved in the scam.
Asked to comment on the Pulse Asia Survey showing 8 out of 10 respondents believe that 50 percent of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has been stolen, Coloma said the Palace shares the public’s view on the need to put a stop to the abuse of PDAF use.
“Nagkaisa kami na ang mga mamamayan na nagnanais na matigil ang anumang anyo ng paglulustay ng pondo ng bayan. Kailangan po talagang pagkaisahan natin ‘yan sapagkat mahalaga ang bawat piso sa pondo ng bayan sa pagpapasigla ng ating ekonomiya at sa pagpapaunlad ng ating bayan,” he said.
The President removed PDAF, stressing the prudent use of public funds.