Abad alam na unconstitutional ang DAP – SC

MANILA, Philippines – Bilang isang abogado, dating kongresista at ngayo'y miyembro ng Gabinete, imposibleng hindi alam ni Budget secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad na hindi naaayon sa Saligang Batas ang Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), ayon sa opinyon ng isang hukom sa pinakahuling desisyon ng Korte Suprema.

"To be specific about this disclaimer, aside from the many admissions outlined elsewhere in the Opinion, there are indicators showing that the DBM Secretary might have established the DAP knowingly aware that it is tainted with unconstitutionality," ani Associate Justice Arturo Brion sa 92-pahinang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa petisyon laban sa DAP.

Sinabi ng hukom na inamin ni Abad noong dinirinig ang oral arguments ng DAP na malawak ang kanyang kaalamanan sa legal at practical operations ng pondo.

Kaugnay na balita: Kopya ng desisyon ng SC sa Disbursement Acceleration Program

Dagdag niya na taliwas ito sa sinasabi ni Abad na hindi niya alam ang legal implikasyon ng kanyang mga ginagawa.

"As a lawyer and with at least 12 years of experience behind him as a congressman who was even the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, it is inconceivable that he did not know the illegality or unconstitutionality that tainted his brainchild," wika ni Brion.

"Armed with all these knowledge, it is not hard to believe that he can run circles around the budget and its processes, and did, in fact, purposely use this knowledge for the administration’s objective of gathering the very funds collected under the DAP."

Kaugnay na balita: Ombudsman iimbestigahan ang DAP transactions

Samantala, sinabi ng korte na maaari lamang managot ang mga nakatanggap ng DAP kung hindi ito ginamit sa tamang pamamaraan.

"Authors, proponents and implementors of the DAP can't get off the hook unless there are concrete findings of good faith in their favor by the proper tribunals determining their criminal, civil, administrative and other liabilities,” nakasaad sa 92-pahinang desisyon ng korte.

"Those who acted in bad faith or with gross negligence cannot invoke the doctrine. Likewise, those directly responsible for an illegal or unconstitutional act cannot invoke the doctrine," sabi ni Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

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