SC acted as ‘conscience of the people,’ says Dean Valdez

By: Jamie Elona - 11 years ago

Dean Amado Valdez FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court acted as the “conscience of the people” when it declared unconstitutional the Priority Development Assistance Fund, a College of Law dean said Wednesday.

“We have to be happy that the Supreme Court had finally settled yung issue and they did it with a lot of hindsight kasi nga it has proven that it [PDAF] has corrupted the Congress and the entire political system (We have to be happy that the Supreme Court had finally settled the issue and they did it with a lot of hindsight because it has been proven that it [PDAF] has corrupted the Congress and the entire political system,” Dean Amado Valdez of the University of the East College of Law said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

He said it turned out that when someone is tempted by a huge amount of money he/she has in hand, it is then used not for what it was originally intended for.

“That kind of experience na nakita ng Supreme Court and . . . the people also gave their strong objection to it (The Supreme Court saw that and the people also gave their strong objection to it.)” Valdez said.

“The SC has acted as the conscience of the people,” he added.

Even before the High Court’s 14-0 decision on the legality of the pork barrel came out, Valdez said he already had a feeling that it would actually end that way.

“Kasi napakalaki ng public outcry eh. Ang Supreme Court naman attuned naman sila sa nangyayari so it was an expected [decision],” he said, noting the public’s reaction when the news on the supposed P10-billion pork barrel scam was reported by the media.

He added that it took a lot of courage for the Supreme Court to reverse its previous decisions on the legality of the lawmakers’ pork barrel.

As to the Executive Branch’s Disbursement Acceleration Program, Valdez said it will likely take the same route.

“Palagay ko ganon din sapagkat dito sa DAP walang appropriation ito kaya nilalabag din niyan yung constitutional provision na ang nag-appropriate ang Congress,” he said.

The decision was issued several months after the Philippine Daily Inquirer broke the story on the supposed P10-billion pork barrel scam where the funds allegedly went to ghost projects and kickbacks.