MANILA, Philippines –Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday backed calls for the full disclosure of all projects funded by the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the proposed independent audit of the funds.
Binay said a full disclosure of the DAP funds would be “a good starting point” to prove “good faith” by those who conceived and implemented the controversial program.
“Let me state as a lawyer that the question of accountabilities of government officials would have to be reckoned as part of the legal and logical consequences of this groundbreaking decision. As you all know, the Supreme Court (SC) has placed the onus of proving ‘good faith’ on those who conceived and implemented the DAP,” the Vice President said in a speech during the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila.
Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“But where do we start? For me, a good starting point would be to make available to the public all the projects funded by DAP,” he said.
“This is after all, is consistent with the tenets of full transparency that is the cornerstone of the Aquino administration and I do hope my colleagues will reconsider a reported decision to withhold the release of the so-called DAP list.”
Binay pointed out that the SC’s decision declaring DAP unconstitutional and the separate concurring opinions on the issue were “rather clear, if not brutally frank, on the matter of accountability.”
“There is no room to speculate or look for hidden clues in the decision of the high court,” he said.
The Vice President said he also supports the proposal of some sectors for an independent audit of the DAP funds.
“And this should be done as soon as possible,” he said.
Binay likewise called for continued vigilance on the continued saga on the “pork barrel” scam.
“It is essential that we see this cleansing of government to its just conclusion—public service without taint of self-interest, without a tinge of deception and political persecution,” he added.
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