Friday, January 8, 2016

GMA lawyer provides ground to jail PNoy, Abad. Yes, it has to do with DAP

SHELL INSATIABLE GREED

GMA lawyer provides ground to jail PNoy, Abad. Yes, it has to do with DAP

Did Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lawmaker Estelito Mendoza just provide a compelling argument to jail “partners in crime” President Benigno Aquino III and Budget Secretary Butch Abad in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) after 2016?

In an interview with reporters, Mendoza compared the DAP to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) controversy which involves his client, ex-president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Arroyo.

“How would you characterize the authorization of Sec. Abad in releasing DAP funds with the consent of President Aquino? Wouldn’t that be equally a raid to the treasury? Wouldn’t that applying the same standard for plunder?” said Mendoza, a former solicitor general.

The supposed brainchild of Abad, the DAP was described as a savings-impounding mechanism that was geared toward jump-starting a stagnant Philippine economy. It was introduced in 2011.

Last year, the Supreme Court (SC) struck it down for being illegal. DAP critics said the program gave the Executive too much discretion over government savings, to the point that it turned into his own “pork barrel”.

“I’m saying [DAP] is a worse case because the SC has already ruled that DAP is unconstitutional.

“There is no SC finding that President Arroyo’s release of the PCSO confidential funds are illegal.

It is authorized by a letter which under our Constitution continues to be valid and effective,” explained Mendoza.

Arroyo, Aquino’s predecessor, has been charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan regarding the release of about P365 million in confidential and intelligence funds.

She has been held under hospital arrest since 2011. (Samantha A. Giron)