UNA’s Tiangco: Aquino thinks he is the law

Ayee Macaraig

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UNA Secretary-General Toby Tiangco says it is dangerous for the President to defend the legality of the DAP, and to issue a veiled threat to the Supreme Court

'BAD PRECEDENT.' This is how UNA secretary-general Toby Tiangco describes Aquino's address on DAP, saying the President is interpreting the law his own way. File photo

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – “What he means to say is that, ‘I am the law. I am correct because I said so.’”

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s opposition coalition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) described as a “bad precedent” President Benigno Aquino III’s speech defending the administration’s spending program and challenging the Supreme Court ruling that declared 3 acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.

In an interview with Rappler, UNA Secretary-General Navotas Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco said the President’s pronouncements were “dangerous” for the system of checks and balances.

“He issued a veiled threat to the Supreme Court and even blamed the Supreme Court for its decision. Saan ka nakakita na ang binigyan ng kapangyarihan na mag-interpret kung ang isang bagay ay ligal o hindi, constitutional o unconstitutional, ay sila pa ang kinwestiyon at sila pa ang sisisihin kung hindi matutuloy ang proyekto? Akala ko uutusan ang SC mag-sorry.

(Where do you find that the body given the power to interpret if an act is legal or not, constitutional or unconstitutional will be the one questioned and blamed for projects that did not push through? I thought he will order the Supreme Court to apologize.)

Tiangco was responding to Aquino’s primetime address on Monday, July 14, where he said he could not accept and understand the Court ruling, and maintained that the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was legal and done “in good faith.”

The UNA official said that the President took upon himself the Court’s power to interpret the Constitution.

“That is what is very dangerous about it. He is questioning the decision of the Supreme Court. It’s like he is saying he is more correct that the Supreme Court in interpreting the law. That is really dangerous. He is saying, ‘I am the law.’”

Tiangco added that all public officials took an oath to stand by the Constitution.

“Even if you are President, you need to respect the law. The speech is worse than DAP itself. He does not want to follow the law.”

Asked about Aquino’s explanation that the DAP helped address the classroom backlog and facilitated the electrification of towns, Tiangco said, “The end doesn’t justify the means. Puro palusot lang eh! (It’s all excuses.)”

The President addressed the nation to defend the DAP nearly two weeks after the High Court unanimously struck down its key components for undermining Congress’ power of the purse.

The issue has since hounded the administration, with an impeachment complaint filed against Aquino and calls for Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to resign. Aquino though rejected Abad’s resignation. Recent surveys showed the President’s popularity suffered following the Court ruling.

The administration’s handling of the issue sparked criticism from the opposition, legal observers and netizens, who said that the government must take accountability, and uphold the Constitution whether it acted “in good faith” or not.

‘No accountability, good governance’

UNA has been calling for Abad’s resignation and for the administration to release the full list of projects that the DAP funded. 

Tiangco was not satisfied with Aquino’s explanation that the DAP funded worthwhile projects. Shortly after Aquino’s speech, the Palace released the list of DAP-funded projects. 

“The speech didn’t even meet the minimum standards of accountability and good governance. The most simple thing to do, for the sake of transparency, is to show where the P170 billion went instead of saying, ‘We used it properly.’ There should be a full, not a partial accounting,” Tiangco said.

The congressman also rejected Aquino’s statement that the DAP was based on the Administrative Code, and is therefore legal.

“The Constitution is the mother of all laws so if there is a conflict between any law and the Constitution, the Constitution prevails.”

Tiangco said Aquino should have just ordered government lawyers to appeal the Supreme Court decision, and to ask Congress for a supplemental budget to fund the programs that the DAP previously financed.

“He should not blame and blackmail the Supreme Court. The impression is that it is the Court that is at fault.”

‘Opposition helpless’

Asked what the opposition plans to do, Tiangco reiterated that UNA’s “hands are tied” because it does not want to support impeachment complaints due to conflict of interest.

He said that UNA is just observing delicadeza or propriety because its founder, Binay, will benefit if impeachment prospers.

As for Binay, the vice president was present to witness Aquino’s address. Binay has called for full disclosure of how DAP was spent, and an independent audit of the funds. The Vice President said the Court decision was clear on the issue of accountability.

Tiangco responded to Aquino’s statements that the intentions, process, and results of DAP were aboveboard.

“The Supreme Court already said it was wrong. So we are in danger now with those statements.”

“The issue is simple. Did it violate the Constitution or not? You can do your good intentions and projects within the bound of what is legal. You don’t have to violate the law to do what is good for the people.” – Rappler.com 

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