DAP brouhaha

EDITORIAL

People are now criticizing the national address of President Aquino on the issue of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) which was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

As Windy Orillosa of Tunay na Alyansa Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK) said:“We cannot believe that a President who espouses the slogan of “tuwid na daan” that includes upholding the basic law of the land, now questions the legal and rightful authority over this matter. The President had criticized the SC for the 13-0 decision wherein the highest court of the land ruled the DAP as unconstitutional.”  

More from Orillosa: “Some may credit Aquino for being firm on his stand and decisions. But after hearing and then reading the full transcript of Aquino's address, we cannot help but see-through Aquino's hard-hard-headedness and arrogance. Instead of acknowledging his own, his Cabinet secretary and the government's grave mistake in concocting and implementing the now unconstitutional DAP, Aquino excused himself from any wrongdoing.   

“He justified his act to re-appropriate what he referred to as “savings.”  This was what the Supreme Court basically struck down as unconstitutional.  Sadly, Aquino refused to recognize this. In his address, the President said some government agencies have been remiss in their duties and were inefficient in implementing their planned projects.  Thus, this gave him the mandate to centralize what he called “savings” and to appropriate these “savings” according to his whims. Aquino did not follow government systems and procedures.He even had the gall to use the “people’s welfare” as an excuse to violate the constitution and squander the people's money.  

“We, the people whom he calls “boss” do not even know what his DAP-funded projects are.  Even our legislators - senators or congressmen, do not also know these DAP-funded projects including their own projects funded from the DAP.  Actually, nobody knows what these DAP-funded projects are except the President and his Budget Secretary.

“President Aquino's national address on the issue of the DAP shows the height of his arrogance and absence of humility.  The people expect him, if he is true to his slogan of “tuwid na daan” to  first  manifest humility,  accept his mistake and most importantly undertake steps to rectify such.  This may be a cliché, but the saying “The end justifies the means,” cannot vindicate the President's act to create and implement the DAP.  Certainly, a wrong means or action cannot justify the result, no matter how desirable the result may be. Of course, the DAP as “economic stimulant” is another big question.”

Malacanang had appealed the SC decision. Whatever decision the SC will have on the matter, it will have a grave impact on how this country’s laws, processes and decisions of courts, much more the SC are being followed and honored.

More graver would be the action of Malacanang should the SC reaffirm its unanimous decision. Would the President risk a constitutional crisis by defying the final SC decision?