Senate open to probe possible misuse of DAP

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate is willing to investigate the possible misuse of funds from the administration’s controversial spending program if state auditors find evidence to support this.  

Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Teofisto “TG” Guingona III told Rappler this is part of the mandate of his panel, and he will wait for the Commission on Audit (COA) report on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).  

“Of course, definitely because the mandate of the Blue Ribbon is malfeasance, misfeasance, and therefore if there are allegations of corruption, then [we will] but I think it’s prudent to wait for [the final ruling since there’s a motion for reconsideration, for the Supreme Court to say anything with finality,” Guingona said after the opening of Senate session on Monday, July 28. 

The Senate and the President drew flak over the DAP after 20 senators received at least P50 million (about $1.1M) each months after the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona supposedly as an “incentive.” 

Reports quoting principal whistleblower Benhur Luy said some of the funds were allegedly funneled to fake non-governmental organizations, in the same way congressional pork barrel was in a major scam last year. Among the implementing agencies of DAP were the National Livelihood Development Corporation and the Technology Resource Center, agencies also implicated in the pork barrel corruption scandal. 

After the controversy over DAP, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Senate will “wield the power of the purse” in crafting the 2015 budget.

At the opening of the second regular session of the 16^th Congress, Drilon largely referred to the pork barrel corruption scandal as a crisis that “threw the institution off-balance.” The scandal led to the arrest of 3 of the Senate’s members, now absent from session as they are in detention.

Drilon only alluded in passing to the controversy about DAP, whose key acts the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional for undermining Congress’ power of the purse.

“As we begin the process of enacting the 2015 national budget, let me emphasize that we will not shirk from our constitutional mandate. We shall wield our power of the purse. We shall craft a budget focused on spending on the right priorities and with measurable results, keeping in mind our goal for inclusive growth,” Drilon said on Monday, July 28.

A staunch ally and party mate of President Benigno Aquino III, Drilon made the statement after defending DAP in a Senate hearing last week. 

After the DAP hearing, observers expressed concern that the Senate will not scrutinize DAP and the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, with most senators allied with the administration coming to the defense of the program.

Still, Senate finance committee chairman Francis Escudero said his panel will apply the decision in crafting the budget.

“To me as chairman of the committee on finance, the priority is crafting the annual budget in time for 2015 and 2016 and included there will be the reforms that the Supreme Court ordered in relation to the budget. We will ensure that we comply with that,” Escudero told reporters.

Opposition Senator JV Ejercito also told Rappler that the minority bloc will include DAP in its “contra-SONA” or response to the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) set to be delivered this week.

The DAP is a stimulus program implemented from 2011 to 2013 meant to address underspending and pump-prime the economy. Yet the Court declared key acts under it unconstitutional for violating the principle of separation of powers, and the system of checks and balances in government.

The DAP was a major political defeat for the Aquino administration, partly causing his lowest popularity ratings in 4 years, and sparking two impeachment complaints. The President has been defending the legality and economic benefits of the DAP for the past weeks and filed an appeal to the Court ruling.

‘Estrada, Enrile not yet suspended’

At the opening of session, Deputy Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III inquired about how the absence of the 3 detained senators – Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr – will be recorded.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano then clarified that the Senate has yet to implement the anti-graft court’s order to suspend Enrile and Estrada, as the order is still subject to an appeal.

The 3 opposition senators were detained in June and early July for allegedly siphoning off development funds meant for the poor to bogus non-governmental organizations in exchange for kickbacks. They are charged with plunder, a non-bailable offense. Their arrest is considered a boost for the administration’s anti-corruption campaign, but also triggered criticism of “selective justice.”

Drilon said the Senate was able to surpass the “formidable challenge” brought about by the controversy. Yet he called on his colleagues to continue defending the institution after the pork barrel and DAP controversies. 

“I believe that it is the incumbent duty of each one of us to defend this institution from groundless and reckless assaults against its very dignity and integrity. We owe it to this chamber to combat falsehoods concocted by cowardly minds who spread their lies through proxy voices and pens; to speak up for the Senate even when it may seem to be more politically convenient and safer for us to be silent, to just wait for the tempest to pass.”

He added, “My dear colleagues, let us set aside 2016 and work hand in hand for the rebirth of the Senate.”

The Senate President also outlined the legislative agenda for the new session:

·      Bills that stimulate the economy and generate more jobs

·      Bills promoting fair competition in business

·      Bills increase the take home pay of workers

·      Bill that strengthen the campaign against graft and corruption and criminality,

·      Bills that expand access to health and education

·      Bills that protect our country’s territorial sovereignty.

‘Focus on future, not past’

Senators said they expected Aquino to focus on inclusive growth in the last two years of his administration, a thrust aimed at ensuring that the Philippines’ vaunted economic growth will translate to jobs and poverty alleviation.

Yet Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, son of the late dicator Ferdinand Marcos, had a concise response to queries about his expectations of the President, whose parents were political rivals of his family during Martial Law.

“Focus on the future. Not the past.” – Rappler.com