Don’t be distracted by impeach moves, Noy urged

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino should not be sidetracked by his critics’ move to impeach him and instead focus on what he needs to achieve in his last two years in office, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said yesterday.

He made the appeal as militant groups are scheduled today to file their third impeachment complaint against Aquino with the House of Representatives.

“The President should not be distracted nor hindered by those who simply do not want him to succeed. We in Congress will close ranks behind him. We will oppose any impeachment case against him, because there is absolutely no basis in fact and in law for it,” he said.

Rodriguez heads the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines, which is part of the multi-party pro-administration ruling coalition in the House.

He said Aquino, Cabinet members and other officials should concentrate on keeping the economy on the high growth path, even without the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

He noted that the World Bank has acknowledged that DAP has significantly contributed to economic growth, while PDAF, the congressional pork barrel, has been used by senators and congressmen to undertake infrastructure projects and extend medical, educational and other assistance to poor constituents.

“The President should keep on the fast and steady course toward the economic and social wellbeing of the Filipino people,” he said.

He said businessmen and the people in general expect the Aquino administration to sustain the country’s economic growth.

Rodriguez also urged the President to put the DAP controversy behind him and move on.

“He has already fully explained it, its basis under Sections 39, 49 and 56 of the Administrative Code, the uniform interpretation of past Presidents on the power to realign savings, the worthy projects for economic development funded by the DAP, and the absolute good faith of his actions,” he said.

Aside from the Constitution, Aquino and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad have invoked the Administrative Code of 1987, which the President’s late mother, former President Corazon Aquino signed.

They said both the Constitution and the Administrative Code authorize the President to realign savings and to use them to augment appropriations.

In declaring parts of DAP as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled that Aquino cannot declare unused funds as savings before the end of the budget year and cannot make cross-border fund realignments to the judiciary, legislature or constitutional commissions, and vice versa.

The President also cannot augment appropriations not listed in the budget and cannot use unprogrammed funds without a certification from the national treasurer that actual cash is available.

The administration has filed a motion asking the SC to reconsider its ruling, telling the high court that it made cross-border fund transfers at least twice in the past before prohibiting such practice.

One instance was when it realigned some of its savings to augment a P100-million appropriation under the Department of Justice for the court building in Manila.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City in Cavite said if cross-border fund transfers were strictly prohibited, local government units would have to stop building court houses, giving allowances to judges, procuring computers and other office equipment and supplies for courts, and paying for contractual personnel assigned to courts.  – With Paolo Romero, Eva Visperas