Cebu group sets launch of people’s initiative against pork barrel on Aug. 23

Million People March against Pork Barrel, held in Luneta, Manila. Wikipedia Photo

CEBU CITY – A multi-sectoral group in Cebu City is set to launch the People’s Initiative Bill on Aug. 23 to scrap the pork barrel system in the country.

Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, one of the convenors, said the bill aims to scrap all forms of pork barrel and punish all people involved in the pork barrel scam.

Three senators, namely, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., have been charged with the non-bailable offense of plunder before the Sandiganbayan in relation to the P10-billion pork barrel scam said to be engineered by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Kintanar said total and true independence can be achieved if the bill is approved in the executive and legislative branches of government.

A people’s initiative is a direct legislation by the people, bypassing the congressional legislative process.

Among the groups involved in the launching of the people’s initiative bill are the People’s Initiative Coalition against Dynasty, the Empowered People’s Initiative and Reform Movement Alliance, Cebu Coalition against the Pork Barrel System and Makabayan.