Butch Abad: Pro-, anti-Aquino solons listed projects for DAP funding, not Lacson

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines –  Except for  former senator and now rehabilitation czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, legislators, who either belong to the administration  or the opposition, nominated  projects  from  funds under the controversial   Disbursement  Acceleration Program  (DAP), Budget  Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad  said on  Thursday.

Even  partylist groups, Abad said,  had  proposed  projects from the DAP funds.

“Well, dito ho sa Senado, isa lang po ang hindi humingi ng pondo na napapaloob po dun sa DAP savings at yan po ay si Senator Ping Lacson,” Abad said, responding to queries by Senate President Franklin Drilon,  during  the hearing of the Senate committee on finance on DAP.

“Lahat ng mga senador regardless of political affiliations nominated projects that can be funded under this program. How about the House?” Drilon  asked.

“Ganun din po, maski na ho nasa minority ay napapagbigyan din po,” said  Abad.

Asked  by  Drilon if partylist  groups  had also received DAP funds,  the Budget chief said, “Including partylist. Katulad ho ng Bayan, nakakatanggap din ho yun.”

Abad particularly named Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares as  one of the recipients of projects  funded  through the DAP.

Before this, Drilon pointed out that even Cabinet  members could nominate  projects  that will be funded  through the DAP.

In fact, Abad said, they also received proposals even from ordinary citizens.