Solon hopes SC will rule in favor of PDAF constitutionality

House Deputy Majority Leader and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo on Tuesday expressed hope that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of the constitutionality of the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), more commonly known as pork barrel.

 

Quimbo said he hopes the high court will take into consideration some half a million scholars who might not be able to enroll this coming second semester, should the pork barrel funds continue to be frozen.

 

“Sana bilisan nila 'yung decision, lalo October, enrollment period. Pati medical assistance, natigil. Kahit bahagya sana ma-lift ['yung TRO],” Quimbo, who himself has more or less six thousand scholars, said in a press conference.

 

In addition to half a million scholars in waiting, Quimbo said there are over a million contituents waiting for medical assistance.

 

“Per figures from the Speaker's Office: 522,310 scholars, 1,356,191 medical assistance,” Quimbo tweeted after the press conference.

 

Through this, Quimbo said he remains optimistic that the SC will rule in favor of the constitutionality of the PDAF, noting that history is on their side.

 

“Three times na nag-rule in favor, sinabing constitutional ito. Wala kaming nakikitang pagbabago, but in the end we trust in their wisdom. We believe in their wisdom, sa lahat ng duda ng legalidad, sila ang huling arbiter,” Quimbo said.

 

The SC on Tuesday is hearing oral arguments on the constitutionality of PDAF. 
 

Quimbo added that at least in matters of scholarship and medical assistance, he is confident that lawmakers’ PDAF have not been misused.

 

“Malaking bagay na 'yun, sa dalawang aspetong ito. Wala namang anomalya sa dalawang aspetong ito,” he said.

 

But Quimbo was also quick to say that should the SC rule that the PDAF is unconstitutional, the House will abide by the decision.

 

“We are three branches in democracy. It is important that whatever outcome is respected. We have to respect that, kung ano man ang desisyon diyan,” he said.

 

Opposing views

 

Meanwhile at least two minority lawmakers hoped for the opposite result, urging the high court to declare the PDAF as unconstitutional.

 

“The SC should respond to the call of the times and the will of the people. The PDAF along with presidential pork has bred a culture of corruption in Philippine government and it should be stopped. The court should now disregard its past rulings which upheld the PDAF, because the past rulings are wrong," said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

 

Colmeneras also said that a decision marking PDAF as unconstitutional will allow lawmakers to function as they were initially intended—to craft laws.

 

"It is clear from the Constitution that Congress is merely empowered to pass laws and has no business in implementing laws. It is illegal for legislators to benefit from laws they passed. We were elected to craft laws, not to build waiting sheds or basketball courts,” he added.

 

Likewise ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio called on the SC to aid in the transition toward a PDAF-free government. 

 

“The Supreme Court has a historic opportunity to contribute to the transformation of traditional politics by ruling against the PDAF. In this case, we would welcome it if the Court flip-flops on its earlier jurisprudence which found PDAF to be constitutional,” Tinio said. 

 

“The Supreme Court could drive one more nail in the coffin of the pork barrel system,” he added.

 

The high court has ruled in favor of the constitutionality of the PDAF three times in the past. —KG, GMA News