While the next administration could look into the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), the Palace warned against misinformation about the issue that puts the government in bad light despite the previous ruling of the high court.
It was reported that the Integrated Bar of the Philippines or IBP has expressed support for the plan of incoming Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to look into the liabilities of officials of the outgoing administration for the alleged unconstitutional acts under the DAP.
In a radio interview Saturday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said it is the right of the next government to look into DAP, noting however that it’s not a new issue and the Supreme Court has ruled on it.
“At ang masasabi lang po natin ay ito: As Chief Executive, President Aquino faithfully followed the Constitution and the laws of the land. Pag sinabi nating President Aquino, siyempre po kasama na niya yung buong executive department,” he said over dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan.
Coloma also recalled that the Supreme Court upheld the government’s motion for reconsideration filed through the Office of the Solicitor General, particularly on the operative fact doctrine in implementing DAP.
“In that decision, the Supreme Court categorically ruled on and upheld the presumption of regularity in the implementation of DAP,” he said.
The Supreme Court clearly stated that the doctrine of operative fact governed the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, according to Coloma.
“Sa ibang salita, in other words, the program’s authors, sponsors and implementers must be presumed to have acted in good faith and with regularity in the performance of their official duties,” he added.
The Palace official also said that the Supreme Court also recognized the positive impacts of DAP after it boost public spending that in turn prop up the economy.
“Dapat siguro ulitin natin yang mga bagay na yan, dahil kapansin-pansin din pag pinag-uusapan ito, iisang bahagi lang yung naririnig natin, yung mga laban sa DAP, yung mga patuloy na naninira sa pamahalaan sa kabila na ng naging pasya na ng Supreme Court,” he said. PND (as)
