Palace ignores Joker Arroyo’s stunning ‘evil genius’ remark

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

Former Sen. Joker Arroyo. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday declined to comment on former Senator Joker Arroyo’s allegation that the person who crafted the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was an “evil genius.”

“With all due respect to Senator Arroyo, we do not wish to dignify comments from Senator Arroyo,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a televised press briefing.

Arroyo, during a radio interview, said he first used the term “evil genius” in 2011 when he criticized those who drafted a special provision in the budget proposal that would allow Malacañang to take over the savings of other agencies and executive offices.

“Looking back, that was in jest. Now, the ‘evil genius’ word turned out to be true. If you’re in the government, you cannot release any money without any authorization. The budget is the authority to spend,” Arroyo said, referring to the DAP.

He also criticized President Benigno Aquino III for allegedly using an administrative code penned by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as basis for the DAP.

“He (Aquino) did not follow his mother (former president Corazon Aquino), he followed Marcos,” Arroyo said.

But Lacierda clarified that Revised Administrative Code of 1987 is an executive order signed by former president Corazon Aquino.

“That particular Revised Administrative Code of 1987 has been the basis for the continuing authority of the President to reorganize the executive branch or the executive department,” he added.