Impeachment over DAP? Noy ready

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is ready to face any impeachment complaint amid pronouncements by some quarters that a Supreme Court (SC) ruling against the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is ground for his impeachment, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma said yesterday.

In a press briefing, Coloma said the President had made it clear that DAP was aboveboard and that it was only a system designed to facilitate the release of funds for emergencies.

Coloma said it was up to members of the House of Representatives to draft a complaint against the Chief Executive and to do what they think is best.

“It’s the President’s conviction that all his actions as chief executive are in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” Coloma said in Filipino.

Some groups have expressed belief that DAP would suffer the same fate as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which the SC declared unconstitutional.

Malacañang also declined to comment on a query from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during budget deliberations on whether funding for the Commission on Audit (COA) was released through DAP.

“They (senators) can decide on the basis of their own judgment. This is the process of the Senate, a co-equal body that the executive does not see fit to interfere with in their own internal processes,” Coloma said.

“It is important that we appreciate the question in the right perspective. The question was posed as part of Senate deliberations on the budget of a government agency,” he added.

In response to Estrada’s questioning, COA Chairman Grace Pulido-Tan said the P140 million obtained through DAP was used for computer upgrade, payment for consultants and lawyers, as well as for acquisition of service vehicles for some officials.

“Your agency cannot be objective in its audit in the propriety and legality of the DAP when the agency itself is a recipient and beneficiary of the DAP even if there’s no irregularity in the disbursement of the DAP,” Estrada told Tan during questioning that lasted an hour up to 11 p.m. last Monday.

Tan admitted having requested for additional budget because the agency was “very behind” in terms of computerization and there was backlog in cases.   

But she clarified that her request for funds was made in 2011 and that she did not know that the amount would be released through DAP.

Estrada also questioned Tan over the appointment of her US-based daughter, Faith Valerie, as executive assistant under the chairman’s office.  

Tan said the appointment was in order since she is allowed to appoint confidential and co-terminus employees.  Tan’s daughter was given a plantilla position with annual salary of P348,336. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez