No parallel probe of P10-B scam in Senate -Drilon

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate has no plans to conduct a separate investigation on the P10-billion scam allegedly funded through lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund or "pork barrel,"  said Senator Franklin Drilon.

Drilon said in a radio interview Monday that Senate will let the National Bureau of the Investigation's  take the lead in probing a fraudulent scheme involving millions of pork from various lawmakers allegedly  channeled through ghost projects.

The issue links Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, Gregorio Honasan, Jinggoy Estrada and Bongbong Marcos as well as 23 members of the House of Representatives to dummy organizations receiving pork barrel funds.

Drilon said that a Senate investigation on the matter might not seem proper since the controversy pins fellow senators.

The administration senator also said that he is studying whether to propose the abolition of the pork barrel in Congress as several issues have already arisen from the funds, which are given to lawmakers for social programs and projects.

He admits, however, that it will be difficult to have other lawmakers agree to abolish the PDAF.

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Corrected at 5:09 p.m.: Third paragraph: Among the senators named is Senator Jinggoy Estrada not Senator JV Ejercito.