Lito Lapid likens life after ‘pork’ to eating ‘tuyo’

For Senator Lito Lapid, life without the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is like shifting from a diet of "pork" to a diet of "tuyo (dried fish)."

 

In a rare interview on Thursday, Lapid admitted that he is still adjusting to not having his P200-million annual discretionary fund, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC) last month.

"Wala kang magagawa talaga e. Talagang mag-aadjust ka. Kumakain ka ng pork barrel, ngayon, tuyo na lang," Lapid told reporters.

 

The Pampanga senator said he wished not all senators had to be affected by controversies spurred by the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

 

"Ewan ko kung mayroong may kasalanan dito o wala. Lahat nadamay. Sana huwag naman lahat," said Lapid, a former movie star before joining politics.

 

The senator further said that he now has to shell out money from his own pocket to be able to help those who come to his office asking for assistance.

 

"Minsan parang mahihiya ka kapag wala kang matutulungan. Kamukha ng mga ospital, 'yung mga pinaaaral natin. Wala, pasensyahan muna," he said.

 

Three of Lapid's colleagues – Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. – are currently facing plunder raps for supposedly pocketing millions of kickbacks from the alleged scam.

In the proposed 2014 budget ratified by the Senate on Wednesday, Lapid was among the senators who chose to realign their PDAF to other government agencies. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News