MANILA, Philippines—Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito admitted on Thursday that the P10-million Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds that he received when he was congressman might have been his reward for voting to impeach then Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Opo kaya nga ako may DAP,” Ejercito said when asked during the weekly “Kapihan sa Senado” if he voted to impeach Corona.
A few days or a week after he voted for Corona’s impeachment, Ejercito said the staff of the House of Representatives’ leadership informed him that he would get an additional P10 million for his district.
The amount, he said, was on top of the annual P70 million Priority Development Assistance (PDAF) or “pork barrel” funds for each member of the House of Representatives.
“Sinabi lang na meron kayong extra on top of your allocation. Pero siguro kung titingnan mo ‘yung mga listahan na nabigyan ng extra, it was those legislators who voted to impeach Corona,” said the senator.
(They just told me that you have an extra on top of your allocation. But if you look at the list of those who were given extra funds, they were those legislators who voted to impeach Corona)
Sen. JV Ejercito. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
“Kasi ‘yung kapartido at best friend ko sa House na si Congressman Toby, lagi kaming magkahiwalay noon ng boto, he voted against so hindi s’ya nakatanggap. Siguro, I’d presume na ‘yun talagang mga bomoto in favor of the impeachment, to impeach Corona were the ones who were able to receive additional P10 million,”Ejercito said, referring to Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco.
(Because my party-mate and best friend in the House, Congressman Toby, and I would always split our votes. He voted against (Corona’s impeachment) so he did not receive (DAP funds). I’d presume that those who voted in favor of Corona’s impeachment, were also the ones who received the additional P10 million.)
It was Ejercito’s half-brother and now detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who had exposed about the additional funds that were allegedly given to senators during the impeachment trial of Corona. Malacañang later identified the additional allocations as funds sourced from the DAP.
Asked then if he was corroborating Estrada’s suspicion that the DAP funds might have been allegedly used to bribe or reward the legislators who voted to impeach Corona, Ejercito said: “Well, I don’t know. Hindi naman sa ako’y nag-aakusa pero yun yung time line e (It’s not that I’m making any accusation but that’s the timeline).”
“As far as I can remember, a few days or a week after, we were advised by the staff of the House leadership that we’ll be getting additional P10 million on top of our regular allocation.”
Pressed if he felt the DAP funds that were given to him was his reward, the senator said: “After going through the list, I’d say so.”
Asked again if there was nothing irregular about receiving a reward, Ejercito pointed out that he was not directly told that it was a reward. He said that he was just blinded by his excitement to bring something for his constituents.
“Being a neophyte congressman, nagpapakitang gilas siguro ako at that time so I admit to my fault that I was remiss in my duty to verify where it came from and for what purpose,” Ejercito added.
(As a neophyte congressman, I was trying to impress people at that time so I admit to my fault that I was remiss in my duty to verify where it came from and for what purpose.)
Ejercito, however, reiterated his willingness to return the money if compelled by the court.
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