Prosecutor in Corona trial denies receiving DAP funds

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – If I didn’t get it, why should the others?

This was the reaction of Cavite representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. when asked if he received funds from the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) after he, as member of the House prosecution panel, voted to convict then Chief Justice Renato Corona Jr.

In an interview over Inquirer Radio 990 AM on Monday, Barzaga denied the Philippine Daily Inquirer report that he and other members of the House of Representatives received  a total of P10 million from DAP—P7 million for farm-to-market roads and P3 million for soft projects.

“It’s not true in our case. As far as the others, I do not know. But I think if I did not receive, I guess other prosecutors did not receive as well,” he said in Filipino.

The  DAP funds were allegedly   given to senators and  congressmen before, during and after Corona’s impeachment in 2012.

“I am present at the start and during the deliberations of our impeachment complaint. We never talked about getting DAP funds if we support the impeachment complaint,”   Barzaga said.