Enrile, Estrada, Revilla urged to resign

MANILA, Philippines - The group behind last year's massive protest against the pork barrel system wants Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. to step down.

The Scrap Pork Network, the organizers of the "Million People March," said these officials who have "wrongfully wielded power" must resign now as the Luneta Park protest passes the half-year mark.

"In the face of overwhelming evidence, we are making an immediate call for the resignation of Senators Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla. This, too, is overdue. In other countries a mere hint of wrongdoing is enough for public officials to resign their posts," the group said on Thursday.

The three senators have been accused of amassing kickbacks from the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) supposedly diverted to fake non-government organizations of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam.

Earlier this week, the Office of the Ombudsman said it found probable cause to charge them with plunder and other offenses before the Sandiganbayan.

They have repeatedly denied stealing from public coffers and cried foul for allegedly being singled out. Revilla and Estrada are currently out of the country but both vowed to return soon.

Estrada has also rejected calls for him to take a leave of absence from the Senate.

Read: Jinggoy: No reason to go on leave

The Scrap Pork Network said the alleged kickbacks obtained by the three senators "is but the tip of the iceberg of fund scams," believing that the "rape of our national budget is on a much grander scale."

"The current administration's 'Daang Matuwid' philosophy continues to be ignored by corrupt officials who steal budgets for food security or who chip away at monies intended for public infrastructure, defense systems, healthcare, education and social services," the group said.

It added that all those who have misused public funds through similar scams should be investigated and those found guilty must be punished.

"Seven months after our protest in Luneta, we believe that a full accounting by and prosecution of all involved are overdue," the network said.