Binay respects PNoy's decision to keep Abad

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay said he respects the decision of President Benigno Aquino III not to accept the resignation of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

"The decision to accept or reject the resignation is the prerogative of the President," Binay said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier today, Aquino announced that he has rejected the resignation offer of Abad, who is considered as the brains behind the administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Read: Aquino rejects Abad's resignation

Following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) declaring parts of the DAP as unconstitutional, some officials and critics have called for the budget chief's resignation.

While he won't say if he supports such calls, Binay has said that all projects funded by the DAP should be fully disclosed.

He said full disclosure is "a good starting point" to prove "good faith" by those who created and implemented the controversial program.

"I do hope my colleagues will reconsider a reported decision to withhold the release of the so-called DAP list," Binay said in a previous speech during the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila.

Binay said he also supports the proposal of some sectors for an independent audit of the DAP funds.

"And this should be done as soon as possible," he said.

Binay added that the SC decision and the separate concurring opinions of the high court magistrates are "rather clear, if not brutally frank, on the matter of accountability."

"There is no room to speculate or look for hidden clues in the decision of the high court," The Vice President said.

In its decision, the high court said that "authors, proponents and implementors" of the DAP can have criminal, civil, administrative and other liabilities "unless there are concrete findings of good faith in their favor by the proper tribunals."

Justice Arturo Brion said in his separate opinion that evidence showed that Abad's actions "negate the presumption of good faith" and that it is "inconceivable that he did not know the illegality or unconstitutionality that tainted his brainchild."