Palace: Abad, Relampagos need not go on leave

BUDGET Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad and Undersecretary Mario Relampagos need not go on leave after the Ombudsman has ordered their investigation over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Malacañang said on Thursday.

“Ayon sa batas ay wala namang pangangailangan para diyan dahil nasa paumpisa pa lamang o gaganapin pa lamang ang preliminary investigation,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a Palace briefing.

Coloma maintained that the Ombudsman’s probe was an “opportunity” for Abad and Relampagos to clarify the issues.

“Ang pagsasagawa ng preliminary investigation sa Tanggapan ng Ombudsman ay nagbibigay ng pagkakataon para liwanagin ang mga isyu hinggil sa pagpapatupad o implementasyon ng Disbursement Acceleration Program,” he said.

On Wednesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the investigation of Abad and Relampagos for technical malversation over  DAP.

Morales made the move after approving the fact-finding investigation of the Ombudsman’s field investigation office, which found the two officials liable over DAP.

The DBM has vowed to cooperate in the inquiry, adding that it was hoping that the Ombudsman would exercise “soundest judgment” in the investigation as the department looked forward to a “swift and fair conclusion.

In July 2014, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional President Benigno Aquino III’s DAP.