Budget dictatorship

Former Senator Joker Arroyo called on DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad to make public and account for the use of the P127-B Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), P72 billion in 2011 and P55 billion in 2012. Add to that the P15 billion released so far in 2013.

Abad should also now make public the use of the P130-B Malampaya Fund, the P6-B Presidential Social Fund, the P7.5-B Calamity Fund, the P1-B Discretionary Fund, and the P500-M Intelligence Fund of the Office of the President.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte insists that there is no misuse of DAP funds. That can only be substantiated by releasing a list of projects and programs funded by DAP for scrutiny by experts.

The public will no longer take Usec Valte’s word of no misuse of the DAP funds. All releases must be accounted for, to the last centavo. All requesting officials must also be listed.

Senator Joker Arroyo has gone on record that a crime of malversation has been committed on the use of DAP funds.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has now recommended that DBM Secretary Abad should be charged for illegal use of public funds.

‘Probably not’

At a presscon in Bali, Indonesia, President Aquino was asked by a Taiwanese businessman if he will seek a 2nd term. For the first time, President Aquino kept the door for 2016 open, when he answered “probably not.”He, however, took time to point out the risks of having a long-term president like Ferdinand Marcos. Upon his return, he should explain to the Filipino people what he meant by saying “probably not.”

Meanwhile, the last two-minute syndrome has set in, with friends of the President lobbying for the approval of big contracts. Note that while a winner was declared in the bidding of the contract for car registration plates, a losing bidder with close ties to Malacañang and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is lobbying to rescind the award.

Billionaires at Customs

Customs insiders are whispering about millionaires and even billionaires in the ranks of Customs’ collectors. One collector allegedly has a mansion in Forbes Park.

Finally, DOF Secretary Cesar Purisima has ordered the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) to conduct a lifestyle check on 27 Customs collectors to begin with. It has been noted that many Customs employees live in expensive Makati and Muntinlupa villages.

Meanwhile, the reform program at the Bureau of Customs has been stymied by the issuance of a 17-day temporary restraining order (TRO) by a Manila Regional Trial Court.

Election expense

Rep. Nicasio Aliping (UNA–Baguio) has filed a bill seeking to increase the limit of campaign expenses to P30 per voter for those running for president, vice president, and senator and P20 per voter for those running for congressman. The present limit is P10 per voter for presidential candidates and P3 per voter for all other candidates.

Laguna Governor ER Ejercito has been charged with overspending by spending P6 million for TV ads alone when his limit was only P4.5 million.

Also recommended to be amended is the 2x3 square-feet limit on streamers as it is easily circumvented by a candidate by stapling together as many as 12 such streamers in one mini billboard.

Several senatorial candidates reported spending P150 million for TV ads.

Valte challenges senators

Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte challenged the senators who requested millions of pesos from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to explain how their funds were funneled and used by non-government organizations (NGOs) identified with Janet Napoles.

Four senators explained that their signatures were forged on the letters to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), asking that their funds be realigned to the National Livelihood Development Center (NLDC), an agency under the Land Bank.

NLDC president Gondelina Amata has been charged with plunder in the first batch of respondents filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Unrest at Customs

The Manila Regional Trial Court has extended its temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for another 17 days up to October 20, against transferring 14 collectors to a Customs Policy Research Office (CPRO).

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the TRO extension runs counter to efforts to reform the BOC.

The Manila Regional Court’s TRO must be questioned before the Supreme Court.

This is another case of an unreasonable TRO being used to stymie executive reform programs.

79 lady legislators

Congratulations to the newly elected Association of Women’s Legislators, Foundation, Inc. (AWLFI). They are Representatives Gina De Venecia (Pangasinan, 4th District), Ma. Theresa Bonoan (4th District, Manila), vice president for NCR; Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan),vice president for Luzon; Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor), vice president for Visayas; Bai Sandra Sema (1st District, Maguindanao), vice president for Mindanao; Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (CIBAC), vice president for PartyList; Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City), secretary; Elenita Milagros Ermita-Buhain (1st District, Batangas), asst. secretary; Evelina Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), treasurer; Elisa “Olga” Kho (2nd District, Masbate), asst. treasurer; Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo (3rd District, Camarines Sur), auditor; Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna), PRO; Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres (4th District, Nueva Ecija), asst. PRO; and Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), muse.

There are now 79 congresswomen, up from 55 in the last Congress.

TIDBITS: Another barangay councilman Narciso Lagbo, 45, native of Jiabong, Samar, was shot dead in Catbalogan, Samar.

Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) reports that there are 3,000 illegal Chinese workers working in Bataan and Batangas.

Former UP Diliman Physics Professor Kim Gargar who joined the NPA, was wounded in a clash with soldiers in Cateel, Davao Oriental.