PMA alumni call for abolition of pork barrel 'in whatever form'

(Updated 7:54 p.m.) The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Advocacy Group, composed of PMA graduates no longer in active duty, has called on the government to abolish the "pork barrel" in all its forms and convict all those linked to the scam of misusing the controversial fund.

 

"Believing that national progress and the upliftment of the quality of life of all Filipinos, especially the less fortunate in society, can be better achieved if public funds are properly used," the group said in a manifesto, obtained by GMA News Online. It was first published in PMA alumnus Ramon Farolan's column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday.

 

Agitated by the pork barrel misuse, the group said it strongly recommends the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) "in whatever form" and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

 

The group also urged the President to submit "all unbudgeted funds," including the Malampaya Fund, the Road Users' Tax, and the social funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), to the Congress.

 

"The Congress of the Philippines, in turn, provide the President with enough funds to deal with calamities and other contingencies, subject to its oversight power," it added.

 

The group also called for Congress to enact a law that "all revenues of the government from whatever source, including but not limited to the Malampaya Fund, the Road Users Tax, the PAGCOR Fund, and the PCSO Fund, be deposited in the National Treasury to be spent only as may be provided in the yearly General Appropriations Act, repealing or amending as necessary existing laws and Presidential issuances to the contrary."

 

It added that public officials implicated in the misuse of their pork barrel funds, and also those who violated anti-plunder or anti-graft laws, should take a leave of absence or resign from their positions.

 Among those who signed the manifesto are:

Farolan (class '56), Rosalino Alquiza (class '55), Rafael Enriquez (class '57), Alfredo Adriano Jr. (class '58), Plaridel Abaya (class '59), Carlos Agustin (class '59), Galileo Kintanar (class '60), Rene Leandro Ebro (class '63), Reynaldo Reyes (class '64), Jose Maria Solquillo (class '65), Fredelino Bautista (class '66), Guillermo Cunanan (class '66), Manuel Espejo (class '66), Raul Urgello (class '66), Mariano Santiago (class '67), Alejandro Flores Jr. (class '72) and
Victor Abat (class '72).

Alquiza, who is also a member of the PMA Alumni Association Inc. board of directors, told GMA News Online that aside from the signatories, there were a few more who wanted to join their call but were unable to sign the manifesto.

“You know kasi, we normally keep our peace, but if the issue affects not only the civillian, but also us, we want our voices to be heard,” he explained.

 

Three senators—Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Bong Revilla—are co-respondents in the plunder complaints for their supposed involvement in the alleged pork barrel scam.

 

Aside from them, 34 others were also named in a plunder complaint filed by at the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged P10-B pork barrel scam supposedly engineered by controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

 

Napoles is being detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna by virtue of a Makati court order for her arrest over charges of serious illegal detention.

 

"The Judiciary of the Philippines, led by the Supreme Court, initiate reforms within its ranks to ensure speedy and impartial trial to punish the guilty and clear the innocent," Farolan said.

 

Speaking up

 

In his column, Farolan noted that the PMA Alumni Association Inc. has since remained silent on the issue, as a result "of an association dominated by officers on active duty who are not allowed to publicly express their views on political matters, especially when they contradict official government policy."

 

"Neither are they allowed to air their grievances except through the established chain of command. Any violation of this principle could result in disciplinary action, including a possible court martial," he explained.

 

However, he said it is the task of PMA alumni who are no longer in active duty or in the government to speak up in behalf of their fellow alumni.

 

"This is their voice," he said.

In the past, PMA graduates with grievances against the government figured in a number of coup d'etat.
 

In 1989, then President Corazon Aquino survived a coup d'etat staged by members of the Young Officers Union composed of young PMA graduates.

 

At least 50 soldiers and civilians were killed while more than 500 others were wounded in the uprising.

 

Meanwhile, in February 2006, some military officials took part in an alleged coup attempt.

 

Among those found to have "conspiratorial participation" in the coup were Sen. Gregorio Honasan, former Marines head Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Col. Ariel Querubin.

 

However, in 2010, then-AFP deputy chief of staff for operations Maj. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan assured that there will be no coup d’etat under the Aquino administration.

 

Pangilinan said the military is “more focused" today than 15 years ago. 

 

"We will be an AFP that is the same, perhaps more focused than maybe 10 or 15 years ago," he said. "Every one in the Armed Forces knows his place in society, that is, to protect the people and the state." —KG/BM, GMA News