That transfer fell under the third and oft-ignored SC definition of pork, that is, “All informal practices of similar import and effect, deem(ed) to be acts of grave abuse of discretion.”
That third definition showed the SC justices to be thorough in their repudiation of congressional pork. They deserve praise: ponente Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Justices Antonio T. Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo D. Brion, Diosdado M. Peralta, Lucas P. Bersamin, Mariano C. del Castillo, Roberto A. Abad, Martin S. Villarama Jr., Jose Portugal Perez, Jose Catral Mendoza, Bienvenido L. Reyes, Mario Victor Marvic F. Leonen.
From lawmakers’ own accusations against each other, pork is their source of kickbacks. From projects ranging from indeterminate river dredgings to farm-to-(pocket) market roads, they derived up to 50-percent cuts of the funds. Oftentimes only 35 percent of the budget is left for labor and materials, so the roads melt from rains.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=90139.0