In the height of the probing of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) Scam which includes businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as the mastermind the PDAF scam or popularly known as the pork barrel, Supreme Court declares it unconstitutional as of today (November 19). The said announcement was made by Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te.
During the voting, members of the Supreme Court vote against 14-0 where as Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr inhibited from the case because his son is a congressman (Lord Allan Jay Quinto Velasco of Marinduque). Meanwhile, in regards of the Malampaya fund, SC ruled that it can only be used for energy-related projects as justices voted 13-0 in favor of the ruling.
PDAF or pork barrel scam started when several ghost projects of fake foundations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were established under the wing of the company of Napoles (JLN Group of Companies). Up to date the, Inquirer named Bong Revilla, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Gregorio Honasan as part of the said scam and several members of congress.
Lastly, SC announced that the remaining PDAF should be returned to Treasury and with the ruling the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the PDAF imposed on September 10 has been declared permanent.
