HIGHLIGHTS: #DAPOrals Day 2

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Solicitor-General (OSG) argued before the Supreme Court Wednesday, January 28, 2014 to defend the Disbursment Allocation Program (DAP) and to rebut claims that the program is tantamount to grave abuse of discretion by President Benigno Aquino III and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The following issues were tackled before the High Tribunal:

Whether the DAP violates and steps on the constitutional power of Congress to be the primary body in charge of appropriations through legislation, as outlined in Sec. 29, Art. VI , which provides: “No money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law.”
Whether or not the DAP violates Sec. 25(5), Article VI of the Constitution, in that: (a) it is sourced from government savings as constitutionally defined, (b) it directs money to items not included in the GAA, and (c) it is simply augmenting discretionary lump sum appropriations in the GAA.
Whether or not, considering that it authorizes the release of funds upon the request of legislators, the DAP violates: (a) the Equal Protection Clause, (b) the system of checks and balances, and (c) the principle of public accountability
Whether or not the program should be ordered restrained, given factual and legal justifications

Read: Palace turn to defend DAP before Court

Listen to the arguments below: