PNP got DAP funds too

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Monday that it received P3.24-billion worth in the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds, but maintained that it belatedly realized that the money came from the controversial economic stimulus program.

Of the P3-billion funds allocated through DAP, the PNP said it covered programs supported by a total of 13 special allotment release orders (Saro) from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The DBM is the agency responsible for the issuance of Saro, which confirms the budget approval for a certain project.

But Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PNP PIO) chief, said in a press briefing that the PNP is “not privy” to the sourcing of the funds.

“When we received Saros, we’re not privy to the sourcing initially so when the issues (on DAP) came in, (we searched for the funds’ source.) Kasi magtatanong ka pa, eh binu-budgetan ka na,” Sindac pointed out.

He, however, made clear that the PNP only used 11.7-percent or P379 million of the total DAP disbursement.

DAP, criticized as the pork barrel of President Benigno Aquino III, has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Sindac said the PNP was “saddened” by the phasing out of DAP-issued funds to the police.

Since 2011, he revealed that the PNP had received DAP until last year for the said activities. The budget was supposedly for the renovation of police stations and purchase of patrol cars, assault rifles, among others, as part of PNP’s modernization program.

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