MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 22, 2013) – Filipinos working in Hong Kong have joined in the clamor to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund, inclduing President Benigno Aquino’s own discretionary fund, and to resolve the rapidly unraveling web of corruption in the government.
Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-HK), Gabriela-HK, the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR-HK) and the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) trooped to the office of the Philippine Consulate General to call for the prosecution of those involved in the corruption.
“Heads must roll and investigation and prosecution must continue regardless of who is involved – even the president himself. The deeply entrenched system of corruption is now getting exposed in the public’s eye who have been carrying the brunt of poverty and lack of social services while government officials cum profiteers corner the bulk of public funds for their own selfish means.”
“The hardships now experienced by our people with the typhoon and severe flooding just highlight the disgusting crimes happening right inside the Aquino government,” BAYAN-HK Country Information Officer, Norman Carnay, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Filipino migrants, according to the protesters, have a lot at stake in the “large-scale robbery” of the people’s money.
“It is immoral that while millions of Filipinos are forced by poverty and unemployment to seek survival overseas, there are the few government officials and their individual cohorts who are wallowing in billions of the people’s money,” said Sol Pillas, vice chairperson of the UNIFIL, in the same statement.
“While thousands are stranded in the Middle East, those in distress are turned away from government assistance for lack of funds, the number of embassies and consulates that should be a refuge for migrants with problems is trimmed down, and OFWs have to beg for any help, the humongous PDAF fund is transformed into a personal kitty bank of unscrupulous politicians,” Pillas said.
Gabriela-HK vice chairperson Rowena dela Cruz also assailed the Aquino government for its failure to take actions and get to the bottom of the “pork barrel” scams.
“Who is Aquino trying to protect and what is he not willing for the public to uncover? Is it the fact that the corruption in PDAF does not only involve opposition politicians but also his cohorts in Akbayan and other administration allies?”
“Is it the fact that billions of similar funds at his disposal as President are also in question? Is it because his boasts of good governance and “daang matuwid” are built on lack of complete transparency, absence of accountability, and impunity?” Dela Cruz asked.
Protesters said that investigation on corruption should not only involve the PDAF, but also the funds allocated for Aquino’s programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer, and in the negotiations with private businesses under the Public Private Partnership program.
“The evil of corruption is long-running and pervasive as government officials treat public office as their own profitable business. It is the moral responsibility of the people to seek a resolution of this issue and to demand for more long-lasting solutions in the corruption-ridden system in the country,” said Rev. Joram Calimutan, Secretary-General of the PCPR-HK.
OFW protesters said that an independent body must be formed to investigate in full and pursue the prosecution of corrupt officials without prejudice.
“Long have the Filipinos suffered from public officials who build their personal wealth at the expense of the people forced to scrape despite the availability of funds that should have been used for the needs of the people and for strategic national development.”
“It is said that the PDAF scams are just the tip of the iceberg and if so, the revelation and resolution of the whole problem of corruption must be done,” Carnay said.
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