Noy to face Pinoys on DAP

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is set to appear on national television tomorrow to explain “current national issues that touch upon the principles of good governance,” as the controversy over the pork barrel scam and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) continues to bedevil his administration, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino “wishes to talk to his bosses” on national television at 6 p.m.

Aquino’s address – to be delivered from Malacañang – is expected to focus on the uproar stirred by the pork barrel scam and the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring portions of the DAP unconstitutional.

His rejection of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad’s resignation had also earned him criticism.

His TV appearance tomorrow would be his second concerning DAP and the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, the official term for the congressional pork barrel.

“He understands the varied reactions to his decision not to accept Secretary Abad’s resignation and he would like to engage the people in continuing dialogue that will enable them to understand the key issues better and make informed decisions,” Coloma said.

Stung by his being labeled “pork barrel king” by critics, Aquino in October last year lashed out at what he described as attempts by his political foes to muddle the issue concerning PDAF and DAP.

It was Abad who revealed that they had assigned funds for lawmakers’ projects to accelerate spending and spur economic growth after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, one of those indicted in the pork barrel scam for plunder and other charges, accused the Aquino administration of giving them extra allocation a few months after the conviction of then chief justice Renato Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Estrada said he thought what was given them was pork barrel funds as he was not aware then of funds released through DAP.

“We are not the same,” Aquino said in a televised address to the nation at that time, apparently referring to his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her officials. “I have never stolen. I am not a thief.”

He blamed those accused of stealing public funds for sowing confusion and wanting to dismantle everything his administration had worked so hard to achieve.

Asked about the public’s reaction – particularly of netizens – to Aquino’s justification of his rejection of Abad’s resignation, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB that Coloma would be able to give accurate figures. Reports said 93 percent of netizens expressed disapproval of Aquino’s decision.

“He will give you the hard-and-fast figures of their monitoring. But so far, it’s been a mixed bag. And that’s expected that some will support the President’s decision, some will disagree with the President’s decision, especially on controversial issues,” Valte said.

Valte said Abad and the Palace were ready to explain the DAP even before the Senate, where the budget chief has been called to appear.

“What was discussed (on Friday) was the budget proposal and currently, DBM is trying to collate all the documents and the data related to the 116 projects (funded by DAP),” Valte said.

She said the administration acknowledges that it’s moving “in a time more challenging than most,” quoting from the opening prayer of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles during Friday’s Cabinet meeting on the proposed 2015 budget.

“The President reiterated his full faith and confidence in Secretary Butch Abad when he refused the latter’s resignation,” Valte said.

She said the President was fully aware that even his “noisiest critics” acknowledged the benefits of the DAP.

“Amid recent disagreements over the constitutionality of DAP and other issues, we ask the public to discern good faith and positive results, and to remain collectively committed to the straight path,” she said.

Valte said the 2015 proposed budget presented and reviewed by Abad was designed to ensure growth that is inclusive.

She cited the budget program’s strong emphasis on social protection and job creation, poverty alleviation and increasing citizen participation in tax spending as exemplified by the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting program.

“(The budget) places strong emphasis on health care, education, and housing – on the overall welfare of our people,” she said.

P-Noy has spoken

On criticisms that Abad’s resignation was a farce, Valte said “at this point, the President has decided.”

“We would just be kicking the can around if we still discuss why the resignation was revocable or not irrevocable,” she said.

“But the fact remains that the rejection of the resignation of Secretary Abad shows that the confidence of the President is in him still, and the confidence of the President in the reforms that have been initiated under their collective watches,” Valte said.

She said the President’s message was “short but clear” and that he was ready to face the consequence of his actions on the matter.

“You know you can express your opinion about it, whether you agree with the President or not, but the fact remains that the President has made his decision... Maybe let it stop there,” Valte said.

Abad takes full responsibility

Abad, for his part, said he is taking full responsibility for the controversy whipped up by DAP but ruled out defying Aquino’s order for him to keep his job as DBM chief.

In a statement released yesterday, Abad said he tendered his resignation to the President, “not without thought or reflection.”

“Although I was wholly prepared to relinquish my post, I am grateful for the President’s expression of his continuing trust and confidence in my leadership of the department. I have thus chosen to defer to his better judgment and stay,” Abad said.

“I am determined, as I have always been, to do justice to the President’s faith in my integrity and competence. Developments over the last year were not merely instructive; they now spur us within the DBM to carry out our responsibilities with greater vigilance and meticulousness,” Abad said.

“I assure the people that we will proceed with a keener awareness of the standards against which our work will be measured, but also with a deeper appreciation of the great opportunities for reform ahead of us,” he said.

He said that while he felt sorry for the controversy caused by the DAP, he remained convinced that the program had immensely benefited ordinary Filipinos.

“In the wake of the controversy surrounding the DAP – especially after the adverse Supreme Court ruling that declared parts of the program unconstitutional – it became clear to me that I must abide by the highest standards of accountability that we in the Aquino administration hold ourselves to,” Abad said.

“I take full responsibility for my role in developing and implementing the DAP, as well as for the impact of the resulting controversy on the administration’s governance agenda. It was therefore only fitting that I resign,” he said.

On Friday, however, Abad said the President announced that he would not accept his resignation before the start of the budget meeting.

Aquino explained on Friday that accepting Abad’s resignation was “tantamount to acknowledging wrongdoing on my end, contrary to the fact that the DAP – as conceived and implemented – proved beneficial to the country’s economy and the administration’s bid for rapid and inclusive growth.”

Critics say the distribution of DAP funds to other branches of government had not been transparent, though the administration maintains it was done in good faith and that nothing was stolen, and that the funds were used for programs and projects that benefited the public.

‘Good idea’

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III welcomed the decision of the President to address the nation to explain the DAP amid the clamor for answers from the public.

Osmeña said that it was a good idea for the President to address the issue before his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 so that he could focus on other matters concerning his administration.

“Good idea. Get it out of the way before the SONA so it won’t distract attention from legislative agenda,” Osmeña said in a text message.

Osmeña said it was necessary for the President to explain the DAP to the nation, especially after the Supreme Court declared parts of it as unconstitutional.

The senator was among the several legislators who received funds in 2012 supposedly related to the DAP.

Osmeña and most of his colleagues in the Senate have claimed that they knew nothing about the DAP and that they had assumed the funds given to them were part of their PDAF.

After the Supreme Court came out with its ruling on the DAP, there came a widespread demand for Malacañang to come out with an explanation regarding the program.

Specifically, the clamor was for full disclosure of the details of the implementation of the program, including the beneficiaries and the amounts allocated.

Senate finance committee chairman Sen. Francis Escudero has set a hearing on the DAP on July 21 and has summoned Abad to attend.

Escudero said he wanted answers from Abad because even he was in the dark about the DAP, specifically the P99 million that was reportedly made available to his office.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said the Palace is right about preparing an official explanation on the DAP.  – With Marvin Sy, Dino Balabo