MANILA - A priest is backing Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago's call for Filipinos not to reelect politicians who have been linked to the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam. Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz said that while he has nothing personal against officials who have already declared their intentions to run in the 2016 polls, he still wants Filipinos to have more choices on who they want as their next leaders. He said the public should elect leaders who will not steal from public coffers. The senator earlier urged students of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) in Batangas City not to reelect "senators or congressmen running for reelection in 2016, if they are among those against whom the Ombudsman will file criminal charges for plunder or malversation of public funds in the Sandiganbayan." She ALSO urged the public to reject politicians who are "consistently silent on the pork barrel scandal." She said politicians who remain silent while the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation is ongoing shows that "the particular politician is willing to make friends with anybody, right or wrong, corrupt or honest, as long as the politician can gather votes." "That candidate is an opportunist. He does not act out of conviction, but acts out of what is convenient for himself,” she said. Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry into the pork barrel scam seems to be going nowhere. He said many officials have been implicated in the scam but only opposition lawmakers are being targeted by the Senate inquiry. RADIO DZMM, March 10, 2014