Tag Archives: Pork Barrel

PROPOSED BILL TO REPLACE ADOBO WITH LECHON AS THE PHILIPPINES’ NATIONAL DISH

August 25, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Senator Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, has filed a new bill that would make lechon (roasted pig) the official national dish of the Philippines.

Until recently, the “unofficial’ national dish was the adobo.

In filing the new bill, Binay said that the main reason she wanted to replace adobo with lechon was to memorialize Congress’ pork barrel which many believe will soon be extinct. A major signature campaign has been initiated by Filipino grassroots groups asking Congress to permanently abolish pork barrel.

“Making lechon the national dish will be a constant reminder to all Filipinos of the many ghost projects that have been successfully funded through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). PDAF, also known as pork barrel funds, is the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a Congressional district.

Earlier this year, a 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scam rocked Congress and the nation, leading to indictments and the arrest of business persons and politicians who allegedly pocketed taxpayer funds intended for non-existent projects and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

While the chicken industry is totally opposed to the new bill, the country’s swine producers are throwing their full support for the measure. As a compromise, the chicken raisers are proposing that lechon and chicken adobo be designated as “co-national dish.”

Binay is scheduled to convene a townhall meeting next week to hear the pros and cons of her measure.

Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion

2,000 HAIL MARYS A DAY NOT ENOUGH TO ATONE FOR JANET NAPOLES’ SINS, ACCORDING TO BISHOP

August 9, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Atty. Stephen David, lawyer for suspected pork barrel scandal mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles told reporters today that his client prays 2,000 Hail Marys everyday as a way to cope with the emotional and mental stress of incarceration.

Napoles is currently in jail in connection with the elaborate scam that diverted 10 Billion pesos of taxpayer money into fake Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and into the pockets of elected officials. Three senators, Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada have also been arrested and jailed for their alleged involvement in the scam.

Reacting to the lawyer’s statement, Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said that 2,000 Hail Marys a day is not enough for Napoles to atone for her sins. Bishop Villegas said that under the moral principle of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ Napoles would need to pray 10 Billion Hail Marys before she can even ask the Lord for pardon. “She has a long way to go,” Villegas said.

As to whether praying Hail Marys would eventually lead to Napoles’ release from prison, Villegas said, “that’s up to the Philippine government. As you know, separation of church and state is a basic tenet of the constitution.”

Reader participation: How many Hail Marys would it take for Napoles to complete 10 Billion? Post your answers in the comment section.

Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Technology, The Media

PHILIPPINES TO IMPORT 24K GOLD WHEELCHAIRS FOR ITS HIGH-PROFILE JAIL INMATES

July 11, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – First, it was designer jail cells, now it’s gold wheelchairs. The Philippine government can’t seem to settle down on how to treat its high-profile inmates, namely, ex-presidents, senators and wealthy business persons charged and detained for crimes ranging from plunder to graft & corruption.

There appears to be a consistent pattern in which famous inmates — from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla, Jr. to businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles — suddenly become ill upon their arrest, requiring them to be hospitalized and treated for their ailment. Arroyo is under hospital arrest for corruption and plunder while she was in office, while Enrile, Revilla and Napoles have all been named in the pork barrel scandal currently being prosecuted by the Philippine Ombudsman. Also arrested in the pork barrel scam was Gigi Reyes, Enrile’s former chief of staff. Reyes immediately fell ill after her arrest and was transferred to a local hospital.

To cope with the increasing need for mobility among these famous inmates, the government of President NoyNoy Aquino has entered into an import agreement with a foreign manufacturer of wheelchairs. Not just ordinary wheelchairs, but gold wheelchairs.

The 24-karat-gold wheelchairs were designed by Ken Borochov (see photo), the same artist who designed the gold wheelchair of Lady Gaga when the famous singer had a hip surgery earlier this year. Borochov says that 1.5 ounces of gold were plated on each chair and that his idea was to make them look like thrones. Certainly fit for queens, divas and privileged politicians.

The wheelchairs will be paid for from left over pork barrel funds now in the custody of Malacanang, the presidential palace.