Anti-‘pork’ group pickets Ombudsman to protest slow pace of probe

The Scrap Pork Network held a noise barrage in front of the Office of the Ombudsman Friday to protest the perceived slow pace of investigations into the pork barrel scam.

The protest coincided with the 100th day since pork barrel scam suspect Janet Lim-Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III.

 

Protesters marched carrying banners and placards calling on Aquino to ask Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to speed up the investigation of the graft and plunder complaints filed against Napoles and several lawmakers in connection with the scam.

 

The President has the power to appoint the ombudsman and her deputy ombudsmen but the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent body under the 1987 Constitution.

 

While at the Office of the Ombudsman, representatives from the Scrap Pork Network also submitted a petition filled with 6,000 signatures urging Morales to prosecute the personalities involved in the P10-billion pork barrel scam before the end of the year.

 

“Hindi sapat na ma-declare lang na illegal ang PDAF. Bilyun-bilyon ang nawala sa bayan. Kailangan nating habulin ang mga nagnakaw ng pera nati," Peachy Tan, spokesperson of the Scrap Pork Network, said in a report aired on “24 Oras.”

 

While the rally was held on the 100th day since Napoles’ surrender, Tan made clear in an earlier report that the Scrap Pork Network is not merely focused on ensuring the controversial businesswoman is held accountable for her alleged crime.



She said the group also wants to make sure politicians involved in the scam are prosecuted as well.

 

The group said in a statement that while it welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision last month to declare the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional, several forms of discretionary funds still need to be abolished.

 

Cultural activist and comedienne Mae Paner, popularly known as Juana Change, joined the protest wearing beggar’s rags.

 

Paner said she chose to dress as a homeless person to represent millions of impoverished Filipinos who lack access to basic government services because the money meant for them is lost to corruption. — Xianne Arcangel/JDS, GMA News