PNoy attacks ‘thieves’ who lump DAP with pork

(Updated 9:13 a.m., Oct. 31) "If you think you can get away with stealing, you are underestimating me and the Filipino people."

This was President Aquino's pointed message Wednesday night to those trying to equate the pork barrel scam with his administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program. Delivered live on national TV, Aquino's counterattack marked the first time the President asked networks for airtime to "directly address the Filipino people," according to a Malacañang statement.

"Kung sa tingin ninyo, titigil ako sa pag-usig; kung sa tingin ninyo, maililihis ninyo ang atensyon ng publiko; kung sa tingin ninyo, makakatakas kayo sa pagnanakaw, nagkakamali kayo ng tantya sa akin, at sa taumbayang Pilipino," he said.

The televised message came after it was reported that there was an internal survey showing a drastic drop in Aquino's approval ratings.

Complete with a slideshow presentation, Aquino expounded on the DAP and its supposed benefits to the public. Without mentioning names, he said personalities involved in the alleged misuse of PDAF are using the DAP issue to divert the public's attention as well as to smear his administration.

"Baka po may nakakalimot sa atin: Pagnanakaw ang tunay na ugat ng isyung ito. Iyan po ang usapang pilit nilang tinatabunan, matapos mabisto ang kanilang kalokohan," he said, pointing out that none of those implicated in the pork barrel scam have denied the accusation.

"Napapailing na nga lang po ako, dahil ang una kong inasahan, papabulaanan nila ang mga akusasyon. 'Di po ba’t iyan ang natural na tugon ng kahit sinong akusado? Sa hinaba-haba ng mga kontra-paratang na ibinabato sa atin, ni minsan, hindi ko narinig ang katagang at statement na 'Hindi ako nagnakaw'," Aquino said.

Old man's advice

He specifically said those accused probably just followed the advice of an old politician from their camp to muddle the issue.

"Kung hindi mo kayang ipaliwanag, palabuin mo na lang lahat; kung hindi mo kayang bumango, pabahuin mo na lang lahat; kung hindi mo kayang gumuwapo, papangitin mo na lang lahat. Narinig naman ninyo ang hirit nila: Pare-pareho lang naman daw kaming lahat," Aquino said.

He quickly added: "Hindi tayo pareho. Hindi kami nagnakaw, at hindi kami magnanakaw; kami ang umuusig sa magnanakaw."

The DAP, the constitutionality of which is being questioned before the Supreme Court, became an issue after Senator Jinggoy Estrada bared that he and other senators who favored former Chief Justice Renato Corona's ouster in May last year received P50 million each in additional funds months after the impeachment trial.
 
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has admitted that the funds came from the DAP, but maintained these were not bribes or incentives for senators. He said the DAP fund, which are basically realigned savings, were released to address sluggish government spending in 2011.

Estrada, along with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla, was among the respondents in a plunder and malversation complaint filed by the Department of Justice in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

'Pork Barrel King'

"Pagnanakaw ang isyu dito. Hindi ako nagnakaw. Pero ang mga diumano'y nagnakaw ay siyang nagpapasimuno ng kalituhan; gustong kaladkarin pababa ang lahat ng ating pinaghirapang maabot dito sa tuwid na daan," said Aquino in his speech.

"Tayo ang ninakawan, tayo ang niloko, tapos tayo pa ngayon ang pinagpapaliwanag. Tayo ang patuloy na naghahanap ng katotohanan, tayo ang nagbawas nang nagbawas sa mga mekanismong maaaring gamitin para abusuhin ang kapangyarihan? Tapos, tayo pa ngayon ang pinaparatangang 'Pork Barrel King,'" he added.

Aquino said the PDAF should not be confused with the DAP because it has helped the country.

"Linawin na rin po natin: Hindi pork barrel ang Disbursement Acceleration Program," he said, noting that only nine percent of DAP releases from 2011 to 2012 went to projects recommended by lawmakers.

"Hindi rin po pagnanakaw ang DAP. Ang pagnanakaw, ilegal; ang paggastos gamit ang DAP, malinaw na nakasaad sa Konstitusyon at sa iba pang mga batas," he added.

Benefits of the DAP

In explaining the benefits of DAP, Aquino said the DAP are sourced from savings and are funneled to agencies that are able to finish projects immediately and efficiently.

Aquino specifically said that the DAP was used to fund Project NOAH, which has helped warn the country against typhoons, and TESDA's Training-for-Work Scholarship program, which has helped 150,000 students.

He also said DAP has helped the Air Force and the police; the construction of roads, classrooms, and hospitals in Mindanao and other parts of the country; and restoration of the benefits of DepEd employees.

Using the DAP, he said the government also boosted the economy.

"Hindi ba’t noong sila ang nasa poder, 'Sick Man of Asia' ang tawag sa atin? Ngayon, mamili na kayo sa mga bagong bansag sa atin ng mundo: Asia's fastest growing economy, Rising Tiger, Brightest Spark," Aquino said.

"Ang pag-angat na ito, at ang tinatamasang benepisyo ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan – ito po ang bunga ng tamang paggastos, sa halip na pagnanakaw. Ang perang dating kino-corrupt, napakinabangan na ng taumbayan, lalo na ng mahihirap," he added.

Aside from the DAP, the President also used the televised message to defend the President's Social Fund, saying it was used to help victims of the Zamboanga crisis.

"May pera naman po, at may sapat tayong mekanismo upang siguruhing mapupunta ito sa dapat kalagyan. Tama bang ipagkait ang kalinga sa ating mga kababayan?" he asserted.

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