According to Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr., President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino won’t apologize for the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP after it was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. He insists that “the executive branch ‘exercised good faith and due diligence’ in accordance with existing laws and relevant auditing rules and procedures”. If my interpretation is correct, Coloma is saying, “Eat my shorts!”
The DAP is a fund created by the Aquino administration that serves as a vehicle for transferring unused appropriations from one project to another. It has since been deemed unconstitutional by the Philippine Supreme Court because it was ruled that the President does not have the authority under the present Constitution to transfer funds out of the jurisdiction of the Executive branch.
You have to give credit to BS Aquino and his minions. They really know the Filipino people’s ability to tolerate oppression. By saying that the Executive branch exercised “good faith” and “due diligence”, they are trying to prove that what the courts say doesn’t matter as long as BS Aquino has the support of the gullible crowd.
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Unfortunately for those who can see through the deception and are calling for accountability from the architects of the DAP (such as Budget Secretary Butch Abad), BS Aquino’s allies in Congress are already dismissing such a move. No less than House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte guaranteed that any attempt to impeach Aquino will fail because “it would be killed early on at the committee level.” A few senators, those who make no secret of their unfailing support for the President, were quite adamant in their defense of the DAP.
Convicted mutineer, now Senator, Antonio Trillanes IV echoed Malacanang and said, “it is in good faith that President Benigno Aquino III gave DAP to each of them.” He added that if it were a bribe, it should have been given before the decision to convict former Chief Justice Renato Corona was handed down by the senators.
“If it was a bribe how come it was given six months after. Sana kung totoong bribe ‘yan, bago pa lamang magdesisyon ang mga senador para masigurong may influence sila dahil natanggap na agad so we can say na may control ang Malakanyang. But there is no such thing,” Trillanes said.
One can also argue with Trillanes that giving the money after the senators voted to convict Corona six months after the trial was a wiser and safer move on the part of BS Aquino and his minions because they only had to give funds to those who voted to convict and they needed time to move funds around without raising too many eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon sent a challenge to “those questioning DAP funds distributed among senators to check where the legislators have allocated the funds.”
“They can check the allocation of these funds. Hindi po ito cash amount na ipinagkaloob ng ating Pangulo kundi alokasyon sa mga gagamitin na proyekto ng sinuman sa amin at ito po ay may kaakibat na paliwanag.” Drilon clarified.
Drilon should make it easier for everyone by publishing the information before the public. He doesn’t have to “challenge” us. The Filipino people are facing enough challenges in their lives. Drilon is also forgetting the fact that the funds given to them through the DAP was not in the budget they supposedly approved for that year. So giving additional funds or pork to the senators just before the year ended in 2012 was quite suspect. And since pork barrel funds were declared unconstitutional as well, Drilon cannot use that as a defense.
Senator Ralph Recto chimed in and said of the DAP “one cannot actually say that it was a stolen money.”
“To the credit of this administration, it is no longer doing any and all acts the Supreme Court has struck down as unconstitutional. These practices have long been abandoned. These violations are not in progress but have long been unilaterally terminated by the government,” he said.
The Aquino administration may have “abandoned” the practice of illegally allocating “savings” from one department to another. However, they only abandoned it after Senator Jinggoy Estrada ratted about the P50-million “incentive” from Malacanang during a privilege speech in September 2013. In fact, the public uproar that resulted from that immediately compelled BS Aquino to make a televised appeal to the public that the country benefited from DAP. That was only last year. So Senator Recto was wrong when he said the “practice [had] long been abandoned”.
Washing his hands off DAP in 140 characters.
Someone should tell Senator Escudero that senators should not just accept money without asking where it is from. It is part of their job to see to it that the approved budget is allocated properly. It is so convenient for someone like Escudero to plead ignorance of the law. He is probably relying on his celebrity girlfriend to dazzle general public and forget that he doesn’t have substance as a senator anyway.
It is quite apparent that public servants who were given funds through the DAP will not support a move to impeach BS Aquino or hold anyone criminaly liable. Doing so would mean that they have to admit they were willing participants in the crime and will have to give back the funds.
Going back to Malacanang, they also insist BS Aquino used the DAP “as [a] stimulus program to achieve economic growth and as an administrative system of prioritizing spending in the execution of the national budget.”
The records show that the only reason the administration had to accelerate spending for the sake of “economic growth” was because they didn’t have an economic policy in the first two years of office. As mentioned before, President BS Aquino only realized the advantage of spending after the economy only grew by 3.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011. The significant drop in growth the previous year compared to the 7.3% growth in 2010 compelled some of the President’s critics and members of the Makati Business Club (MBC) to strongly advise him not to put on hold any public infrastructure projects and, instead, “pump prime the economy” with government funds. Economist Benjamin Diokno even gave BS Aquino some advice that the President would later use but would never acknowledge:
Earlier in his administration, Aquino had been criticised by economists like former budget secretary Benjamin Diokno for adopting austerity measures instead of continuing his successor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s strategy of using stimulus spending to prevent the economy from entering a downturn.
Obviously, after BS Aquino was criticized for the slow economic growth, he had to do something. That something was to get the “savings” from cancelled projects and use it as “stimulus”. To the outside world, BS Aquino looked like he was performing an economic miracle when in fact; he was using taxpayers’ funds inappropriately in a manner that is unsustainable. To sustain economic growth through spending, the government has to keep spending. His government wasn’t really trying to find a permanent solution to the problem.
What BS Aquino was more concerned about was the image of “saving” the country’s economy during his term without regard for what happens beyond 2016. The economy won’t be his problem by then. Unfortunately, his economic policy does not positively affect the lower classes because “spending” to stimulate the economy does not create a lot of jobs for the unemployed. But it did buy the country a Doppler radar as per Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. There’s no guarantee that will last for decades though.
Let us hope that BS Aquino and his minions have overestimated the Filipino people’s tolerance for oppression. Their deception can only take them so far before something gives.
In life, things are not always what they seem.
Umurong din ang yagbols ni Bernas. Ignorance is not impeachable daw. Ignorante lang daw si noynoy sa batas about DAP.
Wow ha, hanep na palusot.
Ignorance of the law excuses no one!
No law and order in the Philippines.
Cash is King.
Do anything you want as long as you have money.
Pay anyone off as long as you have enough money.
All politicians from the top right the way down to councilors and barangay officials are on the take.
Then you have rampant corruption,crime, theft in and not limited to, NBI, customs, police force, immigration, post office, BIR, legal profession from lawyers up to the Supreme Court, Dept of Justice, fire department and on and on.
Filipino’s seem at a lost as to why foreigners do not come here to invest, or tourist do not come for holidays.
You will still be writing the same drama stories in 2020 2030 2040 and on and on and on. Nothing will change.
Foreigners care more for Filipino’s then Filipino’s care for their own. If it was not for international aid agencies and public appeals world wide the poor victims of Yolanda would all be dead by now. Politicians and educated Filipino’s in Manila have all conveniently turned a blind eye to the suffering of their own people.
Put a 50 ft wall around the entire country and call it Supermax Philippines.
“Screw the rules, I have (the taxpayer’s) money.”
– every Pinoy politician’s motto
@ YAWN, Yes, but people are waking up to the fact that what is being donated is being stolen….The amount of foreign aid? its gonna diminish.
Ilda, it is not “he doesn’t care…” but rather “he doesn’t know and didn’t care to know”.
The idiot just says what he wants, like the brat the he is, and then the other idiots, selfish bastards, around him does so, so long as their pockets are stuffed with taxpayers’ money. Every Juan, Pedro and Jose work their asses off in shitty jobs that this government since 1986 has encouraged, and before they lay their overworked hands on it, the government already takes away a big chunk of it as tax. And when they buy food and other necessities, more tax is again shouldered by them. With little or no money left for their family’s other needs. After all of these in mind, they have the gall to say it is in good faith? PI mo, Mr. President!!!
Mr President, you say that DAP is in good faith, prove to the filipino people where each centavo was utlized, failure to account each and every centavo means you are a lying, cheating SOB!!!
agree, accountability up to the last centavo….IF ??????
“If it was a bribe how come it was given six months after. Sana kung totoong bribe ‘yan, bago pa lamang magdesisyon ang mga senador para masigurong may influence sila dahil natanggap na agad so we can say na may control ang Malakanyang. But there is no such thing,” Trillanes said.
Fuck you Trillanes. Sino niloloko mo na Putang ina mo ka! The 50 million was promised to you if you agree to convict Justice Corona. Palusot pa itong hindot na to.
““They can check the allocation of these funds. Hindi po ito cash amount na ipinagkaloob ng ating Pangulo kundi alokasyon sa mga gagamitin na proyekto ng sinuman sa amin at ito po ay may kaakibat na paliwanag.” Drilon clarified.
Isa pa itong baboy na to. Where is the Freedom of Information na ipinangako ng panot mong amo.
““To the credit of this administration, it is no longer doing any and all acts the Supreme Court has struck down as unconstitutional. These practices have long been abandoned. These violations are not in progress but have long been unilaterally terminated by the government,” he said.
The Aquino administration may have “abandoned” the practice of illegally allocating “savings” from one department to another. However, they only abandoned it after Senator Jinggoy Estrada ratted about the P50-million “incentive” from Malacanang”
The practice was not abandoned, they only changed its name from DAP to BUB. Okey?~
And one more thing, they said that DAP money were from savings generated during the year and additional revenue sources. What savings? Additional revenue sources? Ano daw?
My very first comment here on GRP is the best way to express my sentiments about this administration.
“Kill them all and let God sort them out.”
Yeah Kill them all and the Filipinos will be thankful and I hope the SC will decide that you did it in Good Faith.
if only it is easy to kill them, i will do it myself….i do still believe in BAD KARMA!!!!!they will have them all in the right time.
Many of the yellow T-Rex adherents want us to believe that the man was in absolute good faith. From the very beginning the DAP was already analyzed unconstitutional by those who filed cases in the Supreme Court. This was verified true when the SC struck down the DAP as unconstitutional. Good Faith? Nope just extreme bad faith. The yellow T-Rex wanted to control everything in the co-equal and co-independent bodies of the Legislature and Judiciary as he already had full control of the Executive Branch. He miscalculated the people who filed cases and the reaction of the SC. We must remember that the T-Rex has only immunity against Civil Suit. He has absolutely no immunity in criminal prosecution. Ergo the bozos behind the DAP can be criminally charged.
As usual Ilda… this is a good article exposing the yellow T-Rex who lives by the stinking river.
He’s more of a yellow chicken than a t-rex though.
Johnny… I meant Tyrant Rex. LOL!
Fallout from the Daily Tribune…
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/noy-aides-liable-for-dap-sc
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/aquino-s-house-allies-target-jdf-after-sc-ruling-vs-dap
More Fallout from the Daily Tribune…
http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/editorial/noy-abad-lp-all-culpable
Fallout from the Manila Times…
http://www.manilatimes.net/dap-a-tale-of-bribery-greed-and-hacienda-luisita/108872/
“in good faith, because people benefited from it…”
Can the people who benefited from it then, please let yourselves be known to justify the billions of pesos of funds allocated to your benefit?
Fuck you, Mr. Aquino, and your cohorts!!! Prove to the people that this funds were used for the people, up to the last centavo. People like us work honestly with blood, sweat and tears to support our families and at the same time prop up the government by paying taxes, and you cannot even show us where our tax money was used. Enough of your infra projects BS, and your PPP and all your other BS projects and programmes! We want every centavo accounted for.
I’m sick of this yellowtards, saying that it was used “in good faith”.
By Law definition, “in good faith” or “bona fide” denotes sincere, honest intention regardless of the outcome.
So that means, if I murder someone and do it in good faith, I will be free of charges?
For example, I kill a person, a drug pusher, because my intention is in good faith, that what will I do will minimize his victims. Will I be not considered a murderer?
Logically, I still broke the law, and the law excuses no one, same goes with DAP, and the ones who create it, they still broke the law, therefore must be punish by it.
So, Trillanes stated : “it was not a bribe”. “Because, it was given after Corona’s impeachment”. It was not a Bribe; because it was a: REWARD, for kissing Aquino’s ass. Trillanes thinks that all Filipinos are as stupid, as he is. The political opportunist lacks common sense.
The people will decide for the fate of Aquino. Not the Senators and Congressmen Thieves. Porky Drillon try to justify his 100% Pork Barrel Fund. It is already declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Escudero is clueless, where the money came from; maybe it was a “Manna from Heaven”. Stupid Ass !!!…
These thieving political leaders will never impeach their fellow thief. It will be like a Criminal, investigating a fellow Criminal; and judging a fellow Criminal. Would a Criminal convict a fellow Criminal, and jail a fellow Criminal?
There is this concept that “unconstitutionality doesn’t equate to criminality.” Wrong or erroneous interpretation alone of the constitution cannot be subject to legal action.
The executive branch has its own right to interpret its power under the present constitution but it was only then that the SC has another interpretation (because of the petitions versus DAP) superseding the earlier interpretation that it now becomes a law. Same goes for legislative branch when lawmakers interpreted their power to hold PDAF. If DAP funds were stolen or misused then that would be the resolute ground for filing of charges.
But Malacanang insists it exercised good faith. Even SC acknowledged that the DAP “yielded undeniably positive results that enhanced the economic welfare of the country.” So presumably the SC is aware of the projects that DAP funded and they have knowledge of the benefits of such projects. If they have no basis of the said statement then that would be highly irresponsible of them. SC justices also hold the same opinions on the benefits of PDAF even though they defer their decisions strictly in favor of the mandate of constitution.
And there’s the dakilang mangongontra noytard again. Spreading another of your yellow propagandas again because GRP made another constructive criticism against your presidente de patola you asslicker of pnoy?
This is why BS Aquino’s actions are even more detestable—because of damage control minions like Jigs—truly disgusting. No more DAPs, PDAFs, and so on, especially if these are where they can get payment for dog apologists like this.
Ignorantia juris non excusat / Ignorantia legis neminem excusat
Aquino’s group form a brood of vipers—modern day Pharisees, professing Daang Matuwidbut are a model (perhaps the pinnacle) of crookedness themselves. Looks like there’s a place in hell reserved for people like them…
Matt 23:27-28
the bible? that makes whatever you say justifiable?
U really fall for the pious “It is written” dung,HUH?
“the DAP yielded undeniably positive results that enhanced the economic welfare of the country.”
That doesn’t excuse it for being illegal you little twat and besides, the effects of your illegal DAP was never felt by the general public.
Your arguments are full of fail as usual better turn in your resignation to Mr. Coloma since you’re clearly biting off more than you can chew here.
READ THIS AND WEEP:
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/07/05/pnoy-aware-dap-illegal/
Wow, Mr. Aquino is a real hypocrite isn’t he? He already knows that it’s illegal yet he still went on with it.
That is why he deserves a loyal lapdog like Jigs.
A yellow lapdog in denial…
No matter how much he denies that he’s a paid malacañang hack, the rooster always crows thrice.
@Jigs
Does not change the fact that it is unconstitutional, and for someone who swear to uphold and protect the constitution…
A Thief is a Criminal, even if you justify the concept of unconstitutionality…
“I did it because I CAN”, says the boss!
“OH YEAH?”, says the angry pitchforks!
Pres. Only use politics like a burglar uses a crowbar to get what he wants illegally.
Pres. BS Aquino use politics like a burglar uses a crowbar to get what he wants illegally.
President BS Aquino use politics like a burglar uses a crowbar to get what he wants illegally and he calls it in good faith.