Gov't begs SC to lift 'pork' halt order; Carpio rebuffs plea

MANILA, Philippines - Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, representing government, appealed to the Supreme Court on Thursday to lift the temporary restraining order on the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF), Malampaya Fund and the Presidential Social Fund only to be rebutted by a justice.

Speaking before the magistrates during the second round of oral arguments on the constitutionality of the PDAF or "pork barrel," Jardaleza said that patients and scholars who are relying on congressional pork are affected by the halt order.

Related: LIVE: The 'pork barrel' at the Supreme Court (day 2)

"We will plead to you that time is not on the side of the patients, and time is not on the side of the scholars ... innocent beneficiaries of the PDAF," Jardeleza said.

He added that the court must let political solutions and policy changes take its course in solving misuse of the pork barrel.

"For all the sins for the implementation of the PDAF, there will be a time to punish the errant and the corrupt," he added.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, however, questioned Jardeleza for asking the TRO to be lifted when he also said President Benigno Aquino III has abolished the PDAF system.

"Has PDAF really been abolished? Why are you still asking for the release of (the same)?" Carpio said.

Related: Carpio hits 2013 PDAF, says it is 'unconstitutional'

The magistrate explained that Aquino has not yet repealed the PDAF, which is provided in the 2013 General Appropriations Act, but only stopped its releases following reports of misuse and anomalies.