A Mindanao-based lawmaker believes the traditional conflict? resolution proposed by Maranao traditional leaders might do the trick in the current crisis faced by Marawi City.
“It’s not God who was absent or was somewhere else when Yolanda struck. It was the Aquino administration that was and still is nowhere to be felt, found or seen by our hapless kababayans (fellow Filipinos),” said Davao-based lawmaker, Atty. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna Partylist.
Zarate said that while the Constitution allows the President to realign savings based on the approved budget items, he said that the DAP “created new projects not allocated in the General Appropriations and therefore must be approved by Congress.”
Librado-Trinidad said this situation, where elite politicians are infighting among themselves, leaves people no choice but to intensify their protests. “I believe our fight against corruption and bureaucrat capitalism must intensify as no one can effectively carry out this fight but us,” she said.
Bayan Muna Representative Atty. Carlos Isagani Zarate (center) stressed the need to abolish both the legislative PDAF and presidential “pork” or special funds in order to stop the culture of patronage politics. Joining Zarate is Asst. Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Atty. Rodolfo Elman (second, left), teachers of Ateneo de Davao University and anti-corruption advocates during Wednesday’s forum on pork barrel held at Ateneo de Davao University. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)