***TWO STORIES***
Story No. 1
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 19, 2002
LEGARDA CHALLENGE HER COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE TO GIVE UP THEIR
PORK BARREL
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Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda challenged other senators to
give up their pork barrels as she expressed her own willingness
to give up hers.
Legarda's reaction came after it was reported that despite the
government facing a bloated budget deficit this year, some
senators have already spent most of their pork barrel fund for
infrastructure projects, with four of them exceeding their
allotment.
According to the lady solon, the pork barrels is really intended
to help their constituents and that each of them are obliged to
use this funding for the government purposes at the same time.
"I don't mind if the pork barrel of the CDF is withdrawn
totally from each senator. It doesn't really matter to me. We are
lawmakers. If it's there it serves a purpose because we are able
to help our constituents."
But Legarda stressed that should it be decided to hold their pork
barrel, she will not resist against this move.
"If its withdrawn from everybody equally, that's no skin off
my nose. So if indeed there is a problem, if the funding sources
have been depleted, I think that's the least of my
priorities." Legarda explained.
Reports revealed that at least 23 senators have already spent
2.343 billion out of 2.4 billion allotted to them for the second
semester of 2001, which amount was released this year.
Based on data from government agencies, four senators have
overdrawn from their 2001 quota and would charge the amount
against their 2002 allocations.
The amounts overdrawn ranged from p24 million to P100 million.
The senators who overdrew from their allotment were Senate
President Franklin Drilon, P100 million; Sen. Ramon Magsaysay
jr., P60 million; Sen. Robert Barbers, P28.9 million; and Sen.
Aquilino Pimentel jr., P24.6 million.
Only Senator Joker Arroyo has not touched his P100 million
allocation, which will go to the National Treasury.
The rest have realigned their small balances, ranging from P1
million to P20 million to their respective Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF).
When interviewed, Senate President Franklin Drilon clarified that
during the second semester of 2001, he personally endorsed
projects to Malacanang amounting to P200 million, upon the
incessant requests of the local government units.
"The implementation of the project is with the executive
department. At his point, I am not aware of the status of the
releases because I have no control over these." Drilon said.
Another project, according to the Senate President, which
allocation was P100 million, was the school building which he
initiated with the help of a non-government organization assigned
to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and
Industry, Inc.
"And that would translate to 570 classrooms in barangay
throughout the country." Drilon said.
Records showed the senators spent P1.527 billion for road
construction, p184.62 million for flood control, P148.67 million
for water supply projects, P165.86 million for school buildings,
and P317.56 million for other public works projects.
Due to the depleted government coffers, budget officials have
deferred the release of the congressional pork barrel for the
second half of this year.///camille p. balagtas
STORY NO. 2
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 19, 2002
FAKE GSIS AND PHILHEALTH CHECKS PROLIFERATING
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Opposition Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta yesterday asked the
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to focus its time and
effort in hauling to jail those behind the manufacturing of fake
checks of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to protect
beneficiaries mostly belonging to the low-income groups from
these scams.
Oreta said NBI Director Wycoco should train the bureau's
resources against the syndicates behind these fake checks before
more victims, mostly daily wage earners, fall prey to these
scams.
"The NBI should give priority to these cases to send a
strong signal to those behind these anomalies that they cannot
get away with victimizing low-income earners or government
workers who make do with deductions in their meager monthly pay
so that they can one day obtain pension and health benefits from
the government," Oreta said.
"The NBI should focus on busting these syndicates
circulating fake government checks," Oreta added.
According to reports, a big time syndicate could be behind the
issuance of an undetermined amount of fake checks of the GSIS
bearing the forged signatures of its president, Winston Garcia
and chief executive officer Reynaldo Palmiery.
The syndicate behind these bogus GSIS checks is also suspected to
be responsible for the manufacture of fake ID cards of the Metro
Manila Development Authority, Japanese visa, Hong Kong ID cards,
fake $100 bills, fake 'Biglang Bahay' savings bonds and Federal
Reserve notes.
A separate scam involving counterfeit PhilHealth checks was
uncovered by the PhilHealth office in Central Mindanao.
///Camille p. balagtas