Anti-DAP protests sign of ‘healthy democracy’ – Palace

Militant groups on Monday staged a rally in the House of Representatives as anti-pork barrel groups filed an impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino over the Disbursement Acceleration Program. MARC CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The protests against President Benigno Aquino III over his continuing defense of his administration’s use of funds under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is a sighn of a “healthy democracy”, a Malacañang spokesman said Tuesday.

“Iyan po ay senyales ng isang masiglang demokrasya (That is a sign of a healthy democracy),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told a press briefing.

He said a difference in opinion was not something to be bothered about.

“Merong mga mamayan na nais magpunta sa lansangan upang ipahayag ang kanilang saloobin at hangga’t ginagawa nila yan na naaayon sa batas at sa paraang hindi lumlikha ng ligalig at panganib sa kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan, iyan po ay senyales ng isang masiglang demokrasya,” Coloma explained.

(There are citizens who prefer going to the streets to express their beliefs and as long as they do that in accordance to the law and not in a way that would create a disturbance or endanger the lives of the public, that is a sign of a healthy democracy.)

Coloma pointed out that despite the protests, public opinion polls show similar figures – that the President still enjoys the approval of a majority of Filipinos.

More protests are being held against Aquino and his defense of the DAP, which was partly declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

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