Aquino turns tables on SC, says it implemented DAP-like measure

President Benigno S. Aquino III. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday again assailed the Supreme Court (SC) for its decision declaring as unconstitutional parts of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), saying the judiciary had its own cross-border transfers.

“Nadiin pa ang paninindigan natin na naaayon sa batas ang DAP dahil ang mismong Korte Suprema ay sumang-ayon sa ganitong klaseng mekanismo,” Aquino said after citing instances where the judiciary requested for a transfer of funds for certain infrastructure.

(Our belief that the DAP was implemented in accordance with the law was bolstered by the fact that the Supreme Court itself agreed with that kind of mechanism.)

He said the high court requested for a transfer of funds for the construction of the Manila Hall of Justice and the Malolos Hall of Justice.

“Ipinalilipat po nila ang mga pondo para maipatayo ang mga gusaling magbabahay sa mga korte. Wala naman po tayong nakikitang masama rito dahil alam nating mapapabilis nito ang sistemang pangkatarungan sa bansa,” Aquino said in his speech in Tanauan, Batangas during the commemoration of Apolinario Mabini’s 150th birth anniversary.

(They requested for the funds to be transferred to be able to construct buildings that will house courts. We don’t see anything wrong with this because it speeds up the judicial system in the country.)

Turning tables on the judiciary, he said, “Ang tanong lang kung para saan din makakatulong ba ang serbisyong ito sa taong bayan. Kung makakatulong po bakit naman ipagkakait ang pagkakataon mapabilis ang paghahatid ng serbisyo sa ating mga boss?

(The only question is if it will be beneficial to the people. If it is then why would we refuse the opportunity to speed up the delivery of services to our bosses?)

“Dahil nga ginawa din ito ng Korte Suprema…lalong tumibay ang paniniwala natin na nasa tama ang ating mga kilos (ukol sa DAP),” he added.

(Because it was also done by the Supreme Court…our belief strengthened that what we did was right.)

On July 1, the Supreme Court said that parts of DAP were unconstitutional because it allowed the withdrawal of unobligated allotments, cross-border transfers of savings and funding of projects and use of unprogrammed funds not covered by the General Appropriations Act.

However, Aquino defended the DAP through a national address, saying the projects it had funded benefited many Filipinos.

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Originally posted: 11:00 am | Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014