Filipinos in Europe join demand to abolish pork barrel; public funds better used to create jobs and stop forced migration

PRESS RELEASE
26 August 2013

Filipinos in Europe stand in solidarity with their compatriots in the Philippines in demanding the immediate abolition of the “pork barrel” system or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and join them in the show of people power against corruption and the pork barrel on August 26.

This was stressed by Rev. Cesar Taguba of Migrante Europe, as he also called on President Aquino to unequivocally abolish his own presidential pork barrel worth 1.3 trillion pesos and prove to the nation that his much-hyped “daang matuwid” is not a sham.

“President Aquino should stop misleading the nation by announcing the suspension of the congressional pork barrel yet holding on to his own presidential pork. His announcement fails to dampen the righteous outrage of the people against corruption which has gotten more massive and scandalous as it involves relatives, cronies and politicians both from the opposition and administration,” Taguba said.

He stressed that with the next presidential election in 2016, President Aquino's presidential pork barrel would be used to buy off politicians and votes to ensure the victory of his favored candidates.

“Taxpayers' money and public funds should be strictly used for delivering basic social services to the people like education, health, shelter and for generating livelihood and employment opportunities for the people. With the pork barrel system, these funds end up in the pockets of politicians and their cronies,” Taguba said.

“Aquino's 1.3 trillion pesos pork barrel could be put to better use by generating employment opportunities that could stave off the intensifying exodus of Filipinos desperately looking for work abroad,” Taguba concluded.

Rev. Cesar Taguba, Migrante Europe

Filipinos in Europe will hold solidarity actions such as prayer services, discussions and possible work stoppages in protest against pork barrel and massive corruption in the Philippines

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MIGRANTE Europe
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
office@migrante-europe.net
mig_europe@yahoo.com