MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 27, 2013) – Filipinos in New Zealand have expressed support for the anti-corruption protests in Manila where public outrage is mounting over the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund of congressmen and senators.
Dennis Maga, Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand national coordinator, said like many Filipino workers around the world, those in New Zealand were glued on the news at home because they too are outraged at the gross misuse of people’s taxes in the face of life-and-death sacrifices of Filipinos working in and out of the country.
“Year in, year out Filipinos suffer massive floods and lose homes so it is really outrageous that those in power are pigging out in their luxurious mansions while Filipinos are homeless and hungry,” he said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
“On Facebook, Filipinos in New Zealand have been actively sharing posts about the Napoles scam and the much-hated pork barrel system. We also enjoined relatives and friends back home to join the rally in Luneta and other cities with the united clamor to abolish presidential and congressional pork in any form,” Maga said.
Matilde Figuracion, Filipino community leader in Wellington, has challenged President Benigno Aquino to also start looking at government-owned or controlled corporations such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the National Power Corporation and the Philippine National Oil Company, among others as these too are “milking cows” of people’s taxes.
“The Filipino people should know how these GOCCs perform or are their Executives paid millions in salaries and perks. Dapat imbestigahan din sila para malaman ng taong bayan kung magkano ang binabayad natin sa kanila. Baka meron ding mga mansion nga yan at nilulustay nila ang taxes ng taong bayan,” she said.
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