By Janice M. Cave
MANILA, (PNA) — Malacanang on Tuesday said the people’s initiative being pushed by several sectors is “not the only available option” for the abolition of pork barrel funds.
At a media briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Herminio Coloma Jr. said all other options to scrap the controversial funds should also be considered.
He said pushing for a people’s initiative presupposes that the legislative and executive branches of government are unwilling to enact and implement laws that will prevent misuse of public funds.
“While we recognize that people’s initiative is a valid exercise of citizen’s democratic rights under the 1987 Constitution, we believe it’s not the only available option at this time and all other options need to be considered thoroughly as this will have far reaching implications on our people,” Coloma said.
Coloma was reacting to the people’s initiative being organized by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno to enact a law that would scrap pork barrel and ensure public funds would not go to the pockets of politicians.
“While we share a common ground on the aspect of reforming the present structure to ensure the integrity of public funds, there’s a divergence in our views,” Coloma said.
“Nilinaw lang namin dito na sa aming palagay, meron pang sapat na pagkakataon, may existing avenues for reform both in the legislative and executive branches of government,” he added.
Coloma assured that the administration would continue to push for reforms to “strengthen the integrity of public funds.”
“We believe there are sufficient avenues for legislative reform and that the administration, on its own, will adopt appropriate measures to strengthen the integrity of public funds,” he said.
Clamor for the abolition of pork barrel mounted after several lawmakers allegedly channeled their Priority Development Assistance Funds to fake non-government organizations owned by detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.
For the past months, religious and civil society groups have organized rallies to call for the scrapping of the controversial funds.