Jinggoy Estrada says independent body, not COA, should look into DAP

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said an independent body should look into the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), not the Commission on Audit, which was also a recipient of funds that came through the DAP.

Estrada, in a statement on Friday, said an independent body  composed of respected personalities from the academe, mass media, among others should scrutinize the releases made under the DAP, which is now being questioned at the Supreme Court.

He made the proposal as he questioned the credibility of the COA to conduct its own probe after its head, Grace Pulido-Tan, admitted that her office was also a recipient of funds coursed through the DAP.

Tan, during the budget plenary deliberationsMonday, admitted that her office received P143.7 million from the Aquino administration  through the DAP in 2012 to buy its officials new cars, acquire computers and hire consultants,

With Tan’s admission, Estrada doubts if the agency could still look into the DAP disbursements “with objectivity and impartiality.”

“Your agency cannot be objective in its audit on the propriety and legality of the DAP when the agency itself is a recipient and beneficiary of the DAP even if there is no irregularity in the disbursement of the DAP, and everything was in accordance in the SARO issued by the DBM,” Estrada told Tan when they faced again in the plenary.

But Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, in an interview with Senate reporters Thursday, clarified that only the funds for computers and consultants were sourced from government savings and coursed through the DAP, and not the funds for cars.