Binay’s P200M: Pork train to 2016?

When President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his third state of the nation address today, he is expected to again lay claim to the crafting of a legacy of new politics and clean governance. But as has been shown in the previous three parts of a PCIJ special on the pork barrel funds, old politics and patronage politicking are still very much the norm.

In the fourth part of the PCIJ series on the pork barrel, PCIJ executive director Malou Mangahas looks into yet another political player who has found a way to dip into the pork trough. While the Vice President technically is not entitled to a pork barrel because he is not a member of the legislature, Vice President and, some say, 2016 Presidential hopeful Jejomar Binay has already managed to secure a hefty slice of the pork, which he may use to power his way to Malacanang.