PNoy supports bill vs govt projects named after politicians

President Benigno Aquino III has nothing but support to the proposal to criminalize the practice of naming government projects after public officials and persons associated with them, his spokesman said Thursday. At a press briefing, Edwin Lacierda said Aquino is backing Senate Bill No. 2187, which was filed by his ally Senator Francis Escudero. "President Aquino totally agrees with that. He doesn't want any projects named after him," said Lacierda. "All projects are from taxpayers and the taxpayers should be recognized, not the proponents." Lacierda said Aquino had rejected offers to have two projects named after him. He said Aquino's political allies should not "use the president's name in vain." He said these officials should remove posters bearing Aquino's name or image alongside government projects. In filing his bill, Escudero said naming projects such as waiting sheds, ambulances and even trash bins after politicians “falsely gives an inflated sense of accomplishment to public officials to their constituency." Under Escudero's proposal, violators shall be punished with one-year imprisonment and a fine of P100,000 to P1 million depending on the amount of the government project concerned. The bill, however, says that the National Historical Commission of the Philippines may exempt projects depending on its guidelines or regulations. Aquino was congressman of Tarlac's second district for nine years and was a senator for three years before he was elected to Malacañang in the May 10 elections. - Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV