Graft raps filed against Aquino, Abad over DAP

MANILA, Philippines — Several groups filed charges of graft, technical malversation, usurpation of legislative powers and grave misconduct against former President Benigno Aquino III and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes are among the group leaders who filed the complaint against Aquino and Abad before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The complaint argued that Aquino and Abad committed illegal use of public funds or property or technical malversation for misappropriating public funds in conspiracy with one another through the DAP.

The two accused allegedly committed usurpation of legislative powers for implementing the DAP which led to the diversion of funds appropriated by the 2011, 2012 and 2013 General Appropriation Acts.

The funds were allegedly used for programs, activities and projects which Aquino and Abad approved from 2011 to 2016, according to the complaint.

The groups claimed that Aquino and Abad violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act "for causing undue injury to complainants and the various sectors of the public they represent, including the government, in the discharge of their official administrative functions through evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence, as a result of the implementation of the DAP."

The former president and former Cabinet member are also being held accountable for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and gross dishonesty.

Among the complainants are Alliance of Concerned Teachers Chairperson Benjamin Valbuena, Courage President Ferdinand Gaite, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) President Dante Jimenez, Mae "Juana Change" Paner, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Secretary General Antonio Flores, Gabriela Secretary Joan Mae Salvador, Kadamay Chairperson Gloria Arellano and Philippine Heart Center Employees Association President Bonifacio Carmona.

This has been the second set of criminal complaints filed against Aquino after stepping down as president. Last week, the VACC filed charges of multiple homicides against the former president in connection with the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos in the Mamasapano massacre.

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