President’s defense of DAP on national TV hailed, jeered
By Gil C. Cabacungan, Leila B. Salaverria |Philippine Daily Inquirer
Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe praised the President’s speech as “a simple and concise explanation” of the true nature of the DAP while Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said it further bolstered his group’s plan to file an impeachment case against the President Aquino (inset). FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines–Reactions to President Aquino’s nationally televised defense of his controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) Monday night followed partisan lines, with his allies hailing his blast against the Supreme Court and the opposition saying it would fuel impeachment moves against him.
Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte said he fully agreed with the President’s legal position on the DAP and that he believed that the high court’s decision was just a case of “sour grapes” against the President.
Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas said: “How can someone relying on a law like the Administrative Code be guilty of bad faith? It is his duty to prove good faith.”
Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe praised the President’s speech as “a simple and concise explanation” of the true nature of the DAP.
“It is unfortunate that the political opposition has muddled the DAP and portrayed the same as a means to plunder the treasury, which is really farther from the truth as adequately explained by the President. The President also convincingly explained that he and his men were in good faith when they conceptualized the DAP because of an existing provision in the [Administrative] Code in that regard. This good faith is further translated in the numerous tangible programs funded by the DAP, which contributed immensely to our economic growth,” Batocabe said in a text message.
No different from Gloria
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, however, said the President’s speech had further bolstered his group’s plan to file an impeachment case against the President.
“His ratings plunged because of the rise in prices of basic commodities like rice, garlic, meat, oil and electricity, and the DAP. As can be seen he failed miserably on both issues,” Colmenares said. “He is no different from President [Gloria Macapagal] Arroyo and he even justifies his wrongdoing. President Aquino has lost his credibility and he should be held to account by impeachment.”
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said: “This is the height of President Aquino’s hubris. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that he usurped the congressional power of the purse through the DAP. In so publicly and brazenly repudiating the key arguments of the ruling, he seems intent on usurping the Supreme Court’s exclusive role as final arbiter on matters of law as well.”
Tinio said that with words and actions, the President had further poured more fuel to moves to impeach him.
“President Aquino’s defiance of the Supreme Court constitutes nothing less than what the Constitution refers to as betrayal of public trust, specifically a tyrannical abuse of power, a clear ground for impeachment,” Tinio said.
“Ironically, the son and heir of the icons of the antidictatorship struggle, Ninoy and Cory, is acting like a full-fledged tyrant, having been found to have usurped congressional power and now challenging the authority of the Supreme Court,” he added.
Noble objectives
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said he was satisfied with the President’s speech. “It was very clear that they have legal basis and noble objectives when they implemented the DAP. He was also able to enumerate some of the gains brought about by the DAP,” he said.
He said he would now wait for the fulfillment of the President’s promise to provide details of how the DAP funds were spent.
This would help the public know if the funds were stolen or not, he added.
Sen. Sonny Angara said: “I think he merely reiterated his previous stand regarding the DAP and sought to ‘laymanize’ the Supreme Court decision for the consumption of the larger public who may not have had the chance to read the court decision.”
“I am sure the people do not believe P-Noy stole or pocketed the money. Events of the past few years, however, resulted in a jaded and cynical public looking for accountability and transparency and all public officials must heed this call and comply,” he said.
Sen. JV Ejercito said the President showed “arrogance.”
“P-Noy should respect the checks and balances being provided by the Supreme Court as mandated by our Constitution instead of questioning it and defending technical malversation,” Ejercito said.
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