AFP chief defends DAP, sings before troops

MANILA, Philippines – As allies of President Benigno Aquino III in the Senate were helping the Cabinet defend his administration’s accelerated spending program, the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was also doing his part.

While the televised Senate hearing on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was ongoing, AFP chief Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang on Thursday, July 24, was doing the rounds of military camps where he talked about his programs and took the chance to defend the DAP – even singing to troops to explain it.

“We benefited from DAP. We were given some funds. We want to explain that it helped the armed forces. We used it for the repair of buildings and for additional MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) that we needed to continue our operations,” Catapang said in explaining to reporters why he was talking about DAP to the troops. 

Catapang visited the headquarters of the army, navy, and the air force for the first time since he assumed his post last week. (READ: A general’s long wait: Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr)

He took the opportunity to introduce himself to the troops and to give his marching orders. (READ: New AFP chief tells troops: Ignore politics, no HR violations)

He has been including DAP explanation in his speeches. He said he took the initiative to explain DAP to the soldiers because it’s the hottest issue in the coutry. 

“It’s everywhere in the news. Every TV you watch and radio you hear, DAP is being discussed. The soldiers might not understand it so we’re explaining to them how the government works,” Catapang.

The Aquino administration has defended the program, saying it has helped various communities and boosted the Philippine economy. On July 1, the Supreme Court (SC) declared some actions under the program unconstitutional, triggering an angry statement from the President and the filing of an impeachment complaint against him.

Singing to troops

Catapang gave assurances there are no threats of coup in the military. “There is no coup. We want them to be aware so when they go home to their families, they can explain what the DAP is all about,” he said. 

In explaining DAP, the AFP chief has been singing phrases from Paul McCartney’s “Let it be” to the troops. He explained to them how the 3 branches of government – executive, legislative, and the judiciary – function. Catapang said the troops should understand that taxpayers’ money was not wasted.

“The lyrics goes: When you find yourself in trouble, Mama Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom. Let it be…. Let’s leave it at that. There is a decision and we will let it be. We will accept it (SC ruling). Hopefully in the end, we will have a happy ending. There will be an understanding,” said Catapang. 

P665.6 million of DAP for AFP

The military was allocated a total of P665.6 million (about $15M) from DAP funds from 2011 to 2012 through the Department of National Defense (DND), according to an earlier statement from the DND.

DND said most of the funding went to the Air Force and the Presidential Security Group (PSG), used for the procurement of equipment and spare parts, on-base housing, and repair, renovation and rehabilitation of different facilities.

The Air Force received P397.3 (about $8M) to fund among others the rehabilitation of the  Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the principal training institution of the Air Force in Lipa, Batangas. 

The PSG also received P248.3 million ($5.7M) to finance, among others, its communication enhancement project. – Rappler.com