Pork Barrel Scam in the Government

Pork barrel is the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

The term pork barrel politics usually refers to spending which is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes.

The phrase originated in a pre-Civil War practice of giving slaves a barrel of salt pork as a reward and requiring them to compete among themselves to get their share of the handout. More generally, a barrel of salt pork was a common larder item in 19th century households, and could be used as a measure of the family's financial well-being.

Pork Barrel Scam

in the Government

“The pork barrel scam is just one of many scandals showing how crooked and corrupt our government is. Like those old scandals, I expect the problems or mysteries to remain unsolved.”

~ Noah, homeowner

“I expected the scam to explode although the wait lasted much longer. Even so, I do not believe that justice will prevail. Still, it is just right to have the pork barrel system abolished.”

~ Pol, tricycle driver

“There’s a chance to clean up government now that Janet Napoles is under the watch of the authorities. She should be pressed for details on how she handled the money, who she worked with, when did she operate, and more. She has a lot to answer for and must be punished.”

~ Kathy, housewife

“The scam is only the tip of the iceberg. Something big and sinister is going on. In connection, the refusal of some of our senators to attend the PDAF meeting suggests something is wrong. As national leaders, they should face the public and be transparent about the pork they carried.”

~ Wilfredo, business manager

Social Media Rants:

What can you say about the Pork Barrel Scam?

As seen on mainstream news, the scandal involving billions of Pesos of pork barrel funds allegedly being misused by government officials have sparked nation-wide fury, with angry citizens treading to Malacañang demanding answers. As a result, people have grown more doubtful and distrust the public officials who are handling tax money.

“It is shocking and embarrassing at the same time. I cannot understand why dirty maneuvers were used to channel the money to this group, that person and the questionable projects. The scam only shows how corrupt our nation is.”

~ Martina, homeowner

“I am not surprised at all given the fact that corruption is the norm. I consider it pure luck that Janet Napoles was caught. Still, the unusual movement of her, such as bringing her to Malacañang, only arouses my suspicion that something disorderly is brewing.”

~ Senio, retiree

“Unlike the others, I think the scam is an opportunity to bring down the corrupt and unethical members of our government. Maybe we could see the downfall of senators JPE (Juan Ponce Enrile) and Bong Revilla. Let’s wait and see.”

~ Vince, driver

“I am not even voting, but already I have no reason to vote for politicians in the future. Useless to vote when nobody can be trusted.”

~ Darryl, student

PROFESSIONALS’ OPINION

Name: Eduardo T. Reyes Jr.

Designation: Lawyer

Opinion:

The recent spate of court filings of criminal cases against prominent politicians arising out of the so called ‘’pork barrel” controversy do not only scrape the tip of the ice berg but also reveals a major flaw in the Philippine government’s auditing system of public funds.

The public outrage is justified because of the seeming ease with which a private individual could siphon people’s money without detection and the absence of conscience or the part of the government officials charged by law, and trusted by the people, to protect their welfare.

Name: Gideon U. Mohler Jr.

Designation: Registered Nurse

“Politician's are in office to serve the people and should have the public's best interest as their priority, from a moral point of view. At the same time it's the people's fault for allowing those individuals to make it to those positions. Elections are sometimes cheated but for us people, we outnumber those who rule.”

TRANSCIPTION OF INTERVIEWS

Housewives’ Opinion

Name: Mrs. Ursel Talaban, 43 years old

Designation: Housewife

Opinion:

If the pork barrel will be abolished, where will the government officials get money to provide for their projects yet, I am still in favor of having it abolished because I am not happy of what these government officials did to their pork barrel.

Name: Mrs. Norma Sembrano, 66 years old

Designation: Housewife

Opinion:

I feel disappointed to the involved senators because they took advantage of their power. I hope they will be punished for what they did in order to give Filipino people the justice that they deserve.

SENOIR CITIZENS’ OPINION

Name: Bobbie T. Reyes

Designation: Retired Human Resource Management Director

Opinion:

The recent pork barrel scam just shows how hopeless and corrupt the political system is in the Philippines. From the simple Juan to the highly educated John, we can see how one tries to circumvent the system to benefit himself. What’s worse is it’s the person who we elected into office who’s stealing our own money right from under our very noses.

Name: Alicia Amparo Golez

Designation: Retired Teacher

Opinion:

Newly constructed rooms at the PNP custodial center just a few weeks prior to the arrest of the senators involved in the pork barrel scam. And were supposed to believe that these rooms were not made especially for them? And also no VIP treatment as claimed by the PNP!

Name: Paquito N. Salem

Designation: Retired teacher

Opinion:

A regular allocation of public funds to members of the Philippines Congress. It’s designed to give legislators easy access to capital so that they can earmark projects for improving their respective constituencies.

Student’s opinion

Name: Jennyville Mateo, 19 years old

Designation: Student BSPh

Opinion:

The pork barrel should be abolish so that the government officials has no more source of funds to be stole and put it into their pocket.

Name: Davis James Secapuri, 19 years old

Designation: Student BSMLS

Opinion:

This PDAF or also known as Pork barrel must be stopped because some politicians are using this kind of funds to their personal interest. But some of us, students, are not in favor to stop these funds because some are scholars of their district representative and this kind of issue has a big impact to them.

Name: Jerald John Reyes,19 years old

Designation: Student BSME

Opinion:

In my part I am opposing to stop Pork barrel because I’m a scholar of our district representative so if this fund will stop my parents has no source of income to continue my college.

TRISIKAD DRIVERS’ OPINION

Name: Jesson Pedros

Designation: Sikad Driver

Opinion:

Ginago naya. Kawatay.

Name: Jimboy Cabillo

Designation: Sikad Driver

Opinion:

Ang pag pangawat ni Enrile, Napoles, Revilla kag Estrada.

ANALYSIS AND GENERALIZATION

This issue about PDAF is becoming more outrageous and more people are getting involved in the case. And these leaders are well knowned today not because they have shown honesty and truth to the public but for showing a vicious practice in their offices. Even these ordinary sikad drivers refer those people involved in the PDAF scam as “Buaya”, and “kawatan” in the government.

The pork barrel scam is a huge embarrassment to the country itself and to the leaders of the country. Most of the professionals think that the money was purely stolen because the funds came from the pockets of their hard earned money and just go directly to the pockets of those leaders. For them it’s unfair because they work hard and pay a lot of taxes and the paid taxes just vanish and gives the family of the leaders a wealthy lifestyle. They also think that the taxes they pay are not used or allocated by the government properly. The so called “tax” was implemented in order for the government to have sufficient funds to provide and improve the country not rather to enrich themselves.

Filipinos are furious at this time knowing the names of the officials involved, but another piece of misfortune is that Filipinos has no guarantee that the officials would pay the price. They would go out of the country, bribe the people in charge, hospital arrest, house arrest and many tarnished tactics for their comfort. Everyone in this country is dismayed of what our government has become because of money and power. The spirit of serving the Filipino people left their minds and hearts and greed is what reigned in them.

The senior citizens that we have interviewed in the past few days expressed their own ideas and opinions about the PDAF scam. Most of them stated that this recent pork barrel scam shows how corrupt and fruitless the political system of the Philippine is, and that is why there is a slow progress in our country.

We have interviewed several students, some of them are in favor to abolish this pork barrel or PDAF and some are not. Those who are not in favor has their own reason considering that some of them are scholars of some politicians. Students that are in favor to abolish pork barrel has the same reason and that is to stop those who are corrupt and thieves in the government.

As an analysis, we can’t blame the professionals to be naturally enraged because the government itself gives the reason why they should be. And this scandal is also a great lesson to every citizen in choosing the leaders to serve the country. Voters should be responsible and cautious that the leaders will really serve and not steal our money. Let us not be fooled and persuaded by money because at the end, we will be the ones who will suffer. Lastly, we should be wise enough in order to build a productive country without corruption and poverty.