Ombudsman: Aquino, Abad under probe over DAP

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales (left) told the House on Tuesday that her office had initiated a probe on President Benigno Aquino III (middle) and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP. INQUIRER FILES

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said it had launched an investigation on President Benigno Aquino III and Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Appearing before the Committee on Appropriations at the House of Representatives, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the investigation on Aquino and Abad were done motu propio.

Morales issued the statement after Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate asked the Ombudsman about the status of DAP cases in the agency.

“The status of the cases are all pending fact-finding investigations,” she said.

Morales said the agency was evaluating the fact-finding report submitted by its field investigators on the case against Aquino and Abad.

She, however, said that the Ombudsman would not release the investigation report.

“We don’t release the investigation report. We either approve or disapprove it. If we approve it and we recommend the conduct of a preliminary investigation, then so be it. Now, if we don’t agree with the recommendation to initiate a preliminary investigation, this means the case is deemed close and terminated,” she said.

She said that if the report would be approved, a preliminary investigation would be conducted next.

In July 2014, the Supreme Court struck down provisions of the DAP that it deemed unconstitutional. Nestor Corrales / CB

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