The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted the House plan to hire a public relations expert that was announced by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Norte) yesterday. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “this is a clear sign of desperation on the part of the House to deodorize its stinking image. But this is not the solution, it would only center more ire to Congress because no one would believe a PR expert whose sole duty is to prettify its employer’s image, even if the truth is sacrificed,”

“The correct handling of Congress’ problem is for it to get its act together and pass bills that is for the betterment of the lives of their constituents. No amount of “tawas” or make-up can clean the image of the House unless the ones inside it are the primary source of the stink,” added the peasant leader.

Since time immemorial, the House has been hounded by reports that its lawmakers have been greasing their palms with kickbacks from their pork barrel. Congressmen are each allotted a P70-million pork barrel in the Cabinet’s proposed national budget that they are supposed to scrutinize a definite conflict of interest that has further eroded the chamber’s credibility.

As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, stated that “it is a pathetic and desperate move of the House to salvage its reputation, whatever is left of it anyway. Much like of what Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did to uplift her image, Congress is just following suit,”

“Actually, this proposal reflects the rottenness of the dominant politics here in our country, where more emphasis is given to appearances rather than what has been really done to serve the people. That’s why up till now many are in power not because of their whole-hearted service but more for their posturing and by duping the public,” ended Ala. # # # 
 

KMP - 14 September 2005