Ombudsman Remulla: All barangay officials have pork barrel

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Ombudsman Boying Remulla on Saturday criticized the current barangay system, saying it has supposedly paved the way for barangay officials to have their own pork barrel.

Remulla said this was because barangay officials serve as frontline government personnel.

“We have to rethink the barangay system,” Remulla said.

Speaking on his radio program on dzRH, Remulla commented on the passage of a bill extending the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, while questioning the qualifications required for the positions.

“Lahat sila, may pork barrel, hanggang konsehal ng SK,” Remulla said. (All of them have a pork barrel, even down to SK councilors.)

“May sariling pork barrel yang mga 'yan, lalo na yung mayayaman na cities at municipalities,” he added.

(They have their own pork barrel, especially in wealthy cities and municipalities.)

Remulla made the remark while discussing the Senate's recent approval of a measure seeking to extend the terms of barangay and SK officials from four years to five years. The measure was approved with 13 affirmative votes and five negative votes.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the bill's principal author and sponsor, said the extended term would give barangay and SK officials more time to implement programs.

“Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, and frontline service providers — all at a level where government interacts directly with households and families,” Escudero said.

During the program, Remulla asked Sen. JV Ejercito about the current qualifications for barangay officials. Ejercito said the requirements remained unchanged under the bill, including the ability to read and write.

Remulla then suggested that barangay officials, including barangay captains, should be required to have civil service eligibility.—MCG, GMA News