Petitioners vs DAP narrow down issues for Nov. 11 oral argument

PHOTO BY LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Petitioners seeking to declare as void the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) have narrowed down to four the issues that may be tackled in an oral argument on November 11.

In their proposal, petitioners pushed for discussion on the following:

1)     the real nature and legal basis of the DAP (whether it is a fund or a program)

2)     the constitutionality of the fund based releases upon requests of specific legislators; definition of ‘savings’ as used in the Constitution

3)     the legality of DAP as a program based on existing laws

4)     the constitutionality of the use of DAP funds to augment GAA appropriations.

“The petitioners will submit to the Court, through the member-in-charge, their proposal on how to divide the allotment of time as well as the order and identity of speakers,” the high court’s Public Information Office stated.

The oral arguments will kick off from 10 a.m. onwards which will be on the merits of the seven consolidated petitions.

Petitioners include former Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco, Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) represented by former UP Law Dean Froilan Bacungan and Benjamin Diokno and former Bureau of Treasury chief Leonor Briones, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Makabayan group, Atty. Jose Malvar Villegas and former Manila Councilor Greco Belgica.

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