MANILA, Philippines - When allegations about the alleged diversion of multi-billion pork barrel funds of certain lawmakers hit the headlines in July 2013, Filipinos once more became familiar with PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund).
Since then, plunder cases have been filed against alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., now placed under detention, for allegedly pocketing taxpayers' money instead of using them for PDAF projects that should have benefited the public.
Before being hauled to court for the non-bailable offense, Jinggoy, in September last year, delivered a privileged speech, exposing that P50 miliion in additional funds were given to senator-judges who voted to convict then Chief Justice Renao Corona.
Budget Secretary Floresco "Butch" Abad eventually admitted that the funds came from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
The DAP met a flurry of criticism following Abad's admission. However, the Budget chief defended that the DAP "is a stimulus package under the Aquino administration designed to fast-track public spending and push economic growth."
Critics of DAP then filed several petitions before the Supreme Court assailing the constitutionality and legality of the program.
Voting 13-0, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional "acts and practices" under the DAP.
The court resolution states that DAP acts violate Section 25(5), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers of the executive and legislative branches.
The court struck down portions of the DAP allowing the transfer of savings outside the executive branch, the funding of government projects not covered by the General Appropriations Act and the renaming of unreleased allotments and appropriations supposedly for agencies to "savings."
Also nullified was the use of "unprogrammed funds despite the absence of a certification by the National Treasurer that the revenue collections exceeded the revenue targets," it added.
The ruling did not sit well with President Aquino, who went on national television to defend DAP.
Aquino said he won't be saying sorry for the DAP, and criticized the SC for allegedly trying to transfer funds from one government branch to another, the same act it declared as unconstitutional.
Following Aquino's televised address, members of the House of Representatives have filed measures seeking to abolish the multibillion-peso Judiciary Development Fund. - philtar
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