Speaker Belmonte: DAP funds not a reward for Corona conviction

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said that the P10M given to congressmen from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was not a reward for those who supported the ousting of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Marami pa rin ‘di nakakatanggap. It’s very difficult to connect it with Corona,” commented Belmonte, who said that some congressmen were not given any funds as far as September of that year.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the P50 million senators got from the DBM was not a bribe.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga said the P10M he received was different from the P70M Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) he was privy to.

Barzaga, who served as House Prosecutor during Corona’s trial, however admitted that he had not heard of DAP until recent developments.

“I’m not familiar. I don’t really know about DAP. Pero talagang item [ang DAP] sa budget,” he said.

Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas Jr., who served as the head of prosecution during the trial, stated that congressmen were only given small amounts from DAP, if they were given any.

Opposing these stands are former San Juan representative Sen. JV Ejercito and current Navotas representative Toby Tiangco, who testified for Corona in court.

“Meron kaming bonus na-incentive, sabihin na nating incentive, for supporting the impeachment of Corona,” said Ejercito

Tiangco accused Budget Secretary Florencio Abad of creating the DAP as an excuse for the millions of pesos given to Congress, and asked why senators and congressmen who voted against the impeachment were not given funds, if the funds had no relation to the trial.

Palace defense

Undersecretary Abigail Valte put forward the administration's explanation of what the DAP funds were in a press conference at the Palace.

“I can tell you now, [a] very big percentage of the fund was actually coursed through the implementing agencies themselves, meaning agencies in the executive,” Valte said

It was revealed that since October 2011, DAP had up to P85.13B.

In January of 2012, P69.3B, 96% of the funds, was released immediately; P53.8 B of which has documents purportedly proving how it was used. The DAP was spent on upgrades for state-run hospitals, radars for PAGASA, and housing projects, which were not included in the national budget.

Valte said the 1987 Constitution allows savings and appropriations to be used cover deficits and may be spent on projects to stimulate the national economy.  - RT/ELR, GMA News