SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – “Spare no one.”
This was the call of some of the country’s most notable women: for government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the pork barrel scam.
Saying the pork barrel fund is a “manifestation of a fundamentally flawed system,” several members of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) foundation issued a statement on Friday, October 4, condemning the scam and offering solutions on how the country can move forward.
They also proposed to the President the creation of an independent Truth Commission to scrutinize the pork barrel system and provide recommendations for reform for the political governance, budgeting and fiscal administration systems.
Signatories include anti-crime advocate Teresita Ang See, broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro, lawyer Evalyn Ursua and advertising executive Yoly Villanueva-Ong, and 24 others — all recipients of the TOWNS award.
The TOWNS is an award-giving organization for women who “have dedicated their talent and skills to improve the lives of our people and contribute to nation-building.”
It counts among its members Lorna Kapunan – the lawyer of alleged pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim Napoles, Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Rappler’s Maria Ressa, and the Inquirer’s Letty Jimenez Magsanoc.
Truth Commission
The members called for a “thorough and relentless” investigation of those responsible in the scam regardless of their position.
“It should spare no one, blind to whether the person is private citizen or public official, and neutral as to party lines and political connections,” the statement said.
The signatories said the proposed Truth Commission should be composed of non-government individuals with “unquestionable integrity, probity and independence.”
Although the signatories commended the government agencies spearheading the investigations — the Commission on Audit (COA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Office of the Ombudsman — for their effort, they urged COA to also audit the President’s discretionary fund.
“While we have faith in our investigative and prosecutorial agencies’ capacity to perform their duties with fidelity, we recognize that some administration officials and allies have been implicated in the scam, such that the integrity of the institutional processes at work in this matter have been called into question,” the statement read.
Collective action
The group urged Filipinos to demand accountability from public officials involved in plunder, and the abolition of the pork barrel system.
“Educating ourselves, our families, and communities about the pork barrel system and its abuse is a critical step to taking action. Speaking up and joining rallies will break the silence that only emboldens those who steal our money,” the group said.
The group also urged Filipinos to be watchdogs in the local and national levels to raise government accountability and to ensure that public funds are properly spent for the public good.
“All these are important processes in building an informed and critical citizenry that engages in public discourse and collective action towards creating a culture of transparency and accountability in our country,” the statement read.
Right to information
The group cited the need for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill so the public can exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to information on matters of public concern.
They said such a law would ensure and facilitate public access to government records and data that would in turn, promote transparency and accountability in government.
“We believe that the exposé of the pork barrel scam presents a rare opportunity for us as a nation to confront the systemic problems in Philippine governance…Let us use this opportunity to move forward by pushing for fundamental changes in the system and continuing the delicate task of nation-building together,” the group concluded.
Kapunan’s response
In an August 8, 2013-dated email of Kapunan to her fellow TOWNS members, she said she was joining the call of TOWNS members to denounce the pork barrel scam.
“I join all of you in renouncing this PDAF scam,” Kapunan wrote in the email which was sent to a TOWNS mailing list. A copy was obtained by Rappler.
“Mrs. Napoles IS NOT INVOLVED with this PDAF scam — she has no contract with Government at all — and has not received a single centavo from the Government nor stolen any people’s money. She has evidence that these whistle blowers have used her as a convenient scapegoat — an orchestrated media campaign against her is being funded by the powers that be — and we will present all of these in court.”
“I will continue to fight for what I believe is right — I only hope that when the courts vindicate my client and I, that you would be honest enough with yourselves to accept that perhaps indeed it is wrong to assume guilt instead of innocence,” Kapunan said in her email.
READ: TOWNS Statement on Pork Barrel System
– with a report by David Lozada/Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.