MANILA - Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo admitted lawmakers are
saddened by the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision scrapping the pork barrel system,
but he said this has nothing to do with the attendance of congressmen in recent
sessions.
Last week, there were lots of vacant seats in the plenary
after the news of the SC's ruling broke.
Quimbo explained, however, this is because lawmakers are
worried how they will face constituents who depend on their Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for scholarships and medical assistance.
"Very troubled ang marami sa aming colleagues.
Importante na magkaroon ng sistema…Walang kinalaman sa attendance, dahil dati
pa namang minsan walang attendance," he said.
In junking the pork barrel system, the high court made
permanent a stay order covering the 2013 PDAF and ordered the money returned to
the National Treasury.
Quimbo said there are some lawmakers who are pushing for a congressional
action to address the needs of scholars displaced by the junking of the PDAF.
Quimbo said nothing is definite yet, but he stressed the
need to address the issue of the scholars.
"Nagsalita na ang Korte Suprema. Ang apela natin ay for
2013, maraming scholars. Ang apela natin, sana masalo. Hindi na importante na
umepal pa ang mga kongresista. Importante maipagpatuloy ang kanilang pag-aaral,
kailangan masalo sila.”
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