Prosecution: Impeach court not proper venue to discuss ‘pork’

A HOUSE of Representatives leader said Monday that the impeachment court is not the proper venue to discuss the allocation of priority development assistance funds (PDAF), more commonly known as “pork barrel”, to its members.
“This is not the proper venue to talk about pork barrel funds,” Quezon Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, House Deputy Leader and spokesperson for the prosecution panel, told reporters in a news briefing.
During the resumption of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona Monday, the defense panel presented Navotas Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco as its first witness.

In his testimony before the impeachment court, Tiangco said he would have signed the impeachment complaint against Corona for three reasons, one of which is he “does not want to catch the ire of the most powerful man of the country.”

Tiangco claims his PDAF was withheld after he voted against the impeachment of the then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. He said House committee on appropriations chairman Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier warned through a text message that those who will vote against the impeachment of Gutierrez will receive “zero PDAF”. Abaya had since denied that the text message came from him.

After newspapers published statements from a press release issued by Tiangco on his no vote, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad then sent him a text message telling him “to find a way to talk to PNoy.” Abad was referring to President Benigno Aquino III.

Tiangco said he did not talk to the President because he was only a first-term congressman.

The Navotas lawmaker did not sign the impeachment complaint against Corona after its supposed hasty filing. He also quit the House majority bloc.

Records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) show that Tiangco’s P70-million PDAF for the year 2011 had already been released and allocated to his constituents.

“He did get his pork barrel at a later time even if he didn’t vote in the impeachment of Ombudsman Gutierrez,” Tañada said.

Deputy Majority Leader Romero Frederico “Miro” Quimbo, also a spokesperson for the prosecution team, added that PDAF menu set by the Budget department has been very strict and even his PDAF has not yet been fully released.

According to DBM records, only P48 million of Quimbo’s 2011 PDAF has been released.

“Not to complain but the DBM has been very strict. My entire 2011 PDAF has not been released and yet I’m part of the impeachment,” Quimbo said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/13/prosecution-impeach-court-not-proper-venue-discuss-pork-210886

Pampanga is an important province of the Philippines slated to be the next business and tourism center of the country. Already international traffic prefers the Clark International Airport and tourists find Clark Freeport Zone easier to get around than Manila. Safety, low crime rate, no traffic and low pollution levels all contribute to making Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone a preferred destination for local and international tourists.

Highly recommended beach resort in North Luzon for company outings and family retreats is most frequently visited hotel in Clark Pampanga because of beautiful view and good outdoor facilities for swimming, picnic and barbecue.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing day in leisure at famous beach resort in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark enjoy a sense of safety while savoring the laidback lifestyle offered by famous resort hotels like Clearwater in Clark.

Families traveling out of town go to the north to get away from Manila to unwind, relax and swim with friends and children. Highly recommended holiday spot and vacation destination this summer in the north is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark. Clark is adjacent to Pampanga’s Angeles City which is just 70 minutes from Manila and 25 minutes from Subic.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com