Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–“I am not afraid. I have nothing to hide.” That’s how Representative Neri Colmenares defended himself after Malacanang said that he also received funds from the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
Colmenares, in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM, denied receiving any single centavo from DAP, parts of which have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
He said he endorsed to the administration project requests from local government officials but was quick to say that the funds were never coursed through him.
The funds, he said, were directly given to the local government officials.
According to him, Malacañang never specified the fund was from DAP saying it only stated it was a “continuing appropriation.”
In 2013, he said he wrote Malacañang amid the controversy questioning the legality of DAP because it continued to use the term “continuing appropriation” while he suspected this was from DAP funds.
“I wrote Malacañang. I suspect this is DAP, so I am sorry but I have to withdraw my endorsement,” he said.
Politics behind the issue
Colmenares said politics the reason why he was being accused to have benefitted from the DAP funds.
He said if the administration is serious in its investigation on the misuse of government funds, it should not single out the opposition.
He challenged the Aquino administration to release documents as to where and how the DAP was spent including those appropriated to its allies.
He said he remains unfazed despite the accusations thrown at him by the administration, saying he would still endorse the impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino III.
“I will still endorse the impeachment,” he said.
On Wednesday, documents obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer showed that P25 million in DAP funds were appropriated for Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.
The funds were reportedly released in two installments over the past two years.
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