By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, March 19 (PNA) – For neophyte Senator Grace Poe, the Senate can still regain its lofty image as an institution which was damaged by the pork barrel scam allegedly involving some senators.
”I think it’s not beyond repair but I think, as an institution, we have to work on in the Senate to bring up its public image again,” Poe said.
Poe said she still considers an honor to have the opportunity to be in the Senate despite the allegations some of her colleagues released their priority development assistance fund (PDAF) to bogus non-government organizations.
”It’s such an honor, especially with the mandate that I received,” Poe, who topped the 2013 senatorial election, said.
Poe said the speedy resolution of the pork barrel scam “would certainly save the institution.”
She, however, clarified that she was not saying the allegedly involved senators should be sent to jail.
”I just hope that we could finally indict someone; otherwise nobody would take the processes of government seriously,” Poe said.
Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. are among the 38 respondents charged before the Office of the Ombudsman with plunder, malversation, bribery, and graft and corruption practices by conspiracy.
Poe is hoping that the early passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill and other important measures would help regain the tarnished image of the Senate.
”That’s why we made an effort to pass the FOI. It’s a little bit glimmer of hope,” Poe said.
The Senate has abolished the PDAF even before the Supreme Court’s decision to declare it ‘unconstitutional.’ (PNA)