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The JLN pork barrel scandal

Discussion in 'News from The Philippines' started by Methersgate, Jul 15, 2013.

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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

And here's a thoroughly good idea...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/478715/recto-proposes-beef-to-take-the-place-of-pork

Methersgate, Aug 31, 2013

#81
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Anon220806 Well-Known Member

Methersgate said: ↑

And here's a thoroughly good idea...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/478715/recto-proposes-beef-to-take-the-place-of-pork
Click to expand...

LOL....the BEEF fund.

Anon220806, Aug 31, 2013

#82
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Howerd Well-Known Member Trusted Member Lifetime Member

I stumbled across a news report today, which I first read as that pork was being put into medicinal products! Then I twigged that it was all about the pork barrel scandal!!

Howerd, Sep 1, 2013

#83
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Howerd Well-Known Member Trusted Member Lifetime Member

This is just the sort of thread that could attract new visitors to this forum and boost British Filipino forum in the Google rankings.

Howerd, Sep 1, 2013

#84
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Markham Guest

Napoles was transferred from her air-conditioned cell in Makati City Jail to her new 25 square metre "home" within Sto Domingo Fort early this morning. CCTV cameras were installed yesterday which allow her guards to monitor her every move and to warn of any suicide attempt.

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 1, 2013

Markham, Sep 1, 2013

#85
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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

I hope we can provide a helpful and reasonably impartial summary of these very important developments in the country that we love.

Meanwhile, I remarked earlier on Janet Lim-Napoles reported mistrust of the NBI and here is more on that in today's Inquirer:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/478809/aquino-smells-rat-at-the-nbi

Methersgate, Sep 1, 2013

#86
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Markham Guest

The PDAF, aka "Pork Barrel", can only be got rid of if Congress agrees. Problem is that there are major voting blocks against disposing of it and very few votes in favour of the President's decision. Read on (from today's Manila Bulletin):

As public outrage against the congressional pork barrel remains at high decibel, political parties, including two of the biggest – the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) – are taking a party stand on the issue but not in support of the opposition’s bid to abolish the congressional fund.

Tightening the screws for expenditures involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as the pork barrel, appeared to be the likely position of political parties allied with the House majority.

With 113 LP representatives set to meet today to reach a party agreement, the NPC has joined Lakas-CMD and the Makabayan bloc in taking a stand but are clearly against what the two opposition groups are espousing.

Lakas-CMD and Makabayan have submitted separate resolutions proposing the scrapping of the controversy-laded PDAF but have so far failed to get signatories outside their minority blocs.

Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, NPC spokesman in the Lower House, said the party, a close ally of LP, will support President Benigno S. Aquino III’s view in putting in place “stringent measures and reforms to” spending involving the PDAF.

Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, LP secretary general, said the party is expected to express today its committed stand to support Aquino, who had previously declared his desire to have PDAF scrapped.

On the other hand, the Nacionalista Party and the National Unity Party (NUP), parties that are allied with the LP-led House majority, have not yet taken their respective party stands on the issue but allowed their members to pursue individual positions.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), said UNA will still meet on the issue.

The partylist union headed by Rep. Nicanor Briones (AGAP) and Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol) is also drafting its stand on the issue, with Batocabe stressing that amendments to the PDAF system will be strongly considered.

“The pork barrel system is a noble concept with altruistic motives but the very system allowed its perversion in abuse,” Batocabe said. “So why will we burn the house down which provide shelter when only the pipes are leaking.”

Enverga said the NPC believes that PDAF allocated to lawmakers “has proven to yield more advantages to development than disadvantages.”

“The reality is people in our respective areas have high hopes of living a better quality of life and consider the PDAF as a vital means of support that they can count on,” he said.

Enverga added: “Hence, if budgetary allocations for every congressional district will continuously be appropriated we will concur to any new guidelines or reform.”

NPC executive and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao pointed out that the “PDAF is direly needed in the countryside.”

For his part, LP regional officer and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said that several party members appear supportive of instituting “tighter controls and limiting the menu” as a better alternative to pork abolition.

Earlier, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, led the “minority opposition” bloc in filing a resolution calling for the total abolition of the pork barrel system.

A similar move has been taken by the seven-man Makabayan bloc led by Rep. Nery Colmenares of Bayan Muna.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said their partylist is for the abolition of PDAF system. However, he was quick to clarify that their move is independent of the Lakas-CMD and Makabayan acts, which he described as “patently partisan and meant to score political points.”

“On the opposition resolution to abolish PDAF, there is no longer any need for it since the President has abolished PDAF,” Bello said.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr., an NUP stalwart, nodded to House Resolution (HR) No. 235, filed by the House independent minority bloc that calls for the scrapping of PDAF and all “pork appropriations,” including those with the Executive and Judiciary in the government’s national budget.

“There should be a complete abolition, not even line items to restore public trust and confidence to legislators,” he said.

Meanwhile, Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. appealed to the public not to judge lawmakers after some of them were dragged into the P10-billion pork barrel scam controversy.

“I appeal to them (public), they should not judge my colleagues implicated in the pork barrel scam right away. They should be given their day to explain their side,” he said.

Independent Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, for his part, challenged the President to fire all “corrupt” department secretaries who tolerated the downloading of pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations and not to spare his allies from possible overhaul.
Click to expand...

So much squealing from the "pigs" in Congress then.

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 2, 2013

Markham, Sep 2, 2013

#87
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Markham Guest

As a slight side issue:

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas on Monday stepped down from his post amid reports that at least two high ranking officials of the NBI reportedly received P40 million in exchange for information on the issuance of a warrant for the arrest against P10 billion Pork Barrel scam primary suspect, Janet Lim-Napoles.
Click to expand...

More here.

Markham, Sep 2, 2013

#88
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Markham Guest

OFWs are to flex their financial muscle on this issue by staging a "Zero Remittance Day" this month:

Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) will attempt to flex their economic muscle after it announced it will hold a “Zero-Remittance Day” (ZRD) this month to push for the abolition of “pork barrel.”

In a statement, Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez said they have already coordinated with their chapters to urge their members not to remit on Sept. 19 to force the government to scrap the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or more popularly known as “pork barrel.”

“The power to send or not to send remittances rests on Filipino immigrants and OFWs alone. By not remitting for one day, Filipinos all over the world will use their economic power to make a stand against corruption, patronage politics and social injustice,” Martinez said.
Click to expand...

More here.

Markham, Sep 2, 2013

#89
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Januarius Member

Markham said: ↑

OFWs are to flex their financial muscle on this issue by staging a "Zero Remittance Day" this month:

More here.
Click to expand...

I have a sneaky feeling that this one may backfire..
Far too many financial emergencies here on the 19th of the month!

Januarius, Sep 2, 2013

#90
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Aromulus The Don Staff Member

I don't see what difference 1 day would do....
If they were to stop remitting for a week, I would understand it could cause some hardship to the system, but it is like cutting their own noses to spite their own faces, really..

Which ever way, the relatives at home, depending on that money to buy food, pay electricity bills, internet, and whathave you, will suffer...

Aromulus, Sep 2, 2013

#91
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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

One day would make a perceptible, but not a damaging, difference to the banking system, because a steady volume of foreign currency is exchanged daily, and derivatives are built on that, but relatives can last out 24 hours. It's a neat trick, if it works.

Methersgate, Sep 2, 2013

#92
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Markham Guest

Today's Manila Bulletin contains this mildly amusing Op-Ed entitled "New Colony":

Authorities wanted to keep her in a safe place. And Janet Lim Napoles got what she wanted. She was transferred to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, at the break of dawn last Sunday.

At this point, many are unaware that that weekend move will soon trigger an unsettling precedent. Why?

Because, as Napoles’ criminal case transforms from serious illegal detention to plunder, the placid Fort will become a bustling community. It awaits the subsequent detention for the crime of plunder of 94 legislators that COA Chair Grace Pulido Tan says are involved in the serial fraud of plunder, that is, defrauding billions of money that came from taxes paid by 95 million Filipinos.

Without a doubt, all these lawmakers will ask for similar accommodations as those given to Janet Napoles. And Fort Sto. Domingo is the convenient choice. It will become a new penal colony!

She is the key player – the first in the long line of eminent personalities allegedly involved in the so-called multi-billion-peso allotments that went into non-existing projects financed by legislators using their Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF.

Last week, the COA chief said new names of senators have cropped up as among those who received more than R200 million each of PDAF unearthed by the agency’s audit teams from years 2007 to 2009.

The audit body said some of the funds went into dubious NGOs.

With this latest revelation, there are now 10 senators in the COA’s audit reports. Plus, 84 still unnamed congressmen, there will be a total of 94 legislators who will be asking for a safe place for their upcoming incarceration. Since the offense under the law does not allow bail, Janet Napoles will have 94 new neighbors, just in case.

The government may have to build 24 new single-room bungalows, each one to accommodate four detainees.

Just like what PNP SAF operatives did to Janet, the new detainees will be subject to precautionary prohibitions like no carrying of sharp or pointed objects, nail cutter and nail file, and the like.

And to avoid the possibility of a self-inflicted wound, the males will be prohibited from wearing trouser belts and suspenders. And their shoes will have to dispense with shoestrings.

But in the face of this perceived situation, it will not all be about incarceration.

The new penal colony will spur entrepreneurial activities.

Since the upcoming detainees are used to epicurean meals, five-star restaurants like Via Mare may set up a branch there to cater to the fine taste of the new residents.

Corollary to the above business impetus, Starbucks cannot be far behind. Or, 7-Eleven Convenience Store. Same with spa’ saloons, and barbershops like Bruno’s, and beauty parlors like Fanny Serrano’s.

These days many are betting that the Spartan amenities existing in the quarters of Janet Napoles will not be there for long.

With prospective high-profile residents descending on Fort Sto. Domingo a few months from now, a new kind of rehabilitation institution will transform this sleepy Laguna barangay into a flurrying community with resort-like ambience.
Click to expand...

Markham, Sep 6, 2013

#93
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Januarius Member

derivatives are built on that
Click to expand...

What is a derivative? Sorry,but I have no clue.. I think its one of those financial words that are designed by banks and financial institutions to hoodwink certain trading and investment laws..
I`m not really sure.

Last edited: Sep 7, 2013

Januarius, Sep 7, 2013

#94
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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

Januarius said: ↑

What is a derivative? Sorry,but I have no clue.. I think its one of those financial words that are designed by banks and financial institutions to hoodwink certain trading and investment laws..
I`m not really sure.
Click to expand...

Wikipedia has an article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_(finance)

But take the case under discussion.

If you sell sterling to buy Philippine Pesos, the price that you get from your bank is a "spot" price but to be sure that the bank has pesos to sell you the bank will have committed, in the past, to buy pesos in the future - a futures contract. That contract is a derivative contract.

If you were to sell shares in San Miguel on the 19th, you would have to sell pesos and buy sterling; in order that pesos will be available at a known price a futures contract will exist for them. Almost all commodities, from wheat to pork bellies to oil, are sold on futures contracts. Futures contracts are a simple derivative but you can have many more types. Your bank offers you a fixed interest rare mortgage because it has bought a futures contract on sterling interest rates. And so on.

Methersgate, Sep 7, 2013

#95
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Anon220806 Well-Known Member

Miriam’s top 6 pork punch lines

http://www.rappler.com/nation/38490-miriam-pork-barrel-jokes

Anon220806, Sep 9, 2013

#96
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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

A cracking good column in today's Inquirer from Conrado de Quiros:

http://opinion.inquirer.net/60681/no-you-dont

Methersgate, Sep 10, 2013

#97
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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

Here is an interesting twist:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/85579/bi-confirms-tuasonplaza-have-left-ph#ixzz2eq8A0bzz

Both Enrile's long serving Chief of Staff and Jingggoy Estrada's Chief of Staff have gone abroad. These were two of the people who have been named as involved with the pork barrel frauds. One suspects that they will not be coming back to the Philippines for a while. Their bosses will have clean hands, of course.

a good column in Rappler:

http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/38619-aquino-legacy-in-peril

Last edited: Sep 14, 2013

Methersgate, Sep 14, 2013

#98
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Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/486499/solons-sold-their-pdaf

Methersgate, Sep 15, 2013

#99
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Anon220806 Well-Known Member

a good column in Rappler:

http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/38619-aquino-legacy-in-peril
Click to expand...

Nice summary.

Anon220806, Sep 15, 2013

#100

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