THE 10B PORK BARREL SCAM---- Hannah Manilhig

                  Every country needs a leader. A leader who will keep it organized and progressive. That’s how they get you during elections.

                  In order for every politician to fend for  the needs of the people in their districts and the like, they are allocated a budget that come from our taxes. This budget should not be corrupted because it is intended for the people through the politicians who serve as mediators.

                  There is a lump discretionary fund granted to each member of Congress for spending on priority development projects of the Philippine government mostly on the local level known as the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) popularly known as the pork barrel. Obviously this money is intended to be spent wisely. But, are they?

                   One of the biggest issue that the country is facing right now is the pork barrel scam.. Janet Lim-Napoles, who is now currently under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Forces is alleged to have the biggest involvement in the so called multi-billion pork barrel scam. Or is she?

              This scam involved even the innocent people and organizations like NGO’s and  the Department of Agriculture. Benhur Luy, a state witness, formally told the court of Napoles’ involvement in the scam.

               Ghost projects have been made because of fake proposals and forged signatures of people whom they don’t even know existed. Even dead people were enlisted in their fake documents. Most senators who are involved in the scam denied the authenticity of their signatures found in the said fake documents.

               What’s more suspicious is that the finances of these politicians have raised higher over the years. They have more properties compared to when they weren’t in their positions yet. Do we have a problematic system of government or is it just run by untrustworthy politicians? They may have stolen from the people yet they are not imprisoned. Is this even fair? Common people steal for their family and they get incarcerated. Simple as that. But if matters were to concern politicians, it’s going to be a very big problem.

              This is unfair. Just because politicians have higher ranks, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be imprisoned if they violated the law. We have laws and these laws are made for all of us. So why don’t we stick with what the law obliges us to do?

We should always think before we act.

NTG: Janet Lim-Napoles, itinangging sangkot siya sa umano'y bilyun-bilyong pork barrel scam.... photo from Google Images