Anti-pork groups urge SC to resolve DAP petitions

MANILA, Philippines - Several anti-pork barrel groups on Tuesday trooped to the Supreme Court, asking magistrates to resolve the petitions on the government's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The groups, led by Bayan, insisted that the DAP is a form of presidential pork, a discretionary fund under the control of the Chief Executive.

Leaders of Bayan and the #abolishpork movement are among the petitioners questioning the legality of the DAP.

The protest at the High Court came ahead of the nationwide protest actions being organized by the #Abolishpork Movement on June 12.

“It is necessary that the DAP petitions be resolved immediately, especially now that the public is again discussing the pork barrel issue. The SC must rule on the DAP petitions and strike down this form of presidential pork," Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

"It is not enough that Malacañang claims that the DAP no longer exists, and has been terminated in 2013. The so-called presidential authority used to implement the DAP is highly questionable," Reyes added.

He said that the DAP brings the issue of pork barrel misuse right at the doorsteps of Malacañang.

"Both Aquino and  (Butch) Abad should be held accountable for the DAP. This fund was apparently used to bribe Congress during the Corona impeachment and to ensure the influence of the Executive over the Legislative. DAP funds were also subject to corruption. In this sense, it is no different from PDAF," Reyes said.

Simultaneous protest actions will also be held in several cities around the country for the June 12 Rally for Accountability.

President Benigno Aquino III will be in Naga City in Bicol for the Independence Day celebration and is expected to also be greeted by protest actions.

"Aquino cannot hide. The protests are nationwide. The call for full accountability is getting stronger. Even with the impending arrests of the three senators, the pressure is still on the President to investigate and prosecute his allies implicated in the pork scam," Reyes said.

Protesters in Manila will gather at the Liwasang Bonifacio before proceeding to the Don Chino Rocer Bridge (formerly Mendiola), near Malacañang for a torch march on the same day.