PNoy still backs Abad despite DAP controversy — Palace

President Benigno Aquino III still trusts Budget Secretary Butch Abad despite calls for him to resign over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program, Malacañang said on Friday.

"The President has consistently stated his full trust and confidence in Secretary Abad. That has been clear," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press briefing.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that it found portions of the DAP unconstitutional.

Abad recommended the fund releases under DAP, which Aquino authorized.

But Valte said they do not see Abad as a liability to the administration.
 
"If you look at the track record of Secretary Abad and the reforms that he’s initiated, I believe you can all go through the body of his work and you can see what steps he has taken to make sure that the budget – the people’s money – is spent wisely," she said.
 
"You’ve seen of all these initiatives under of the DBM (Department of Budget and Management), under his leadership as well as that of the President. So we go back and let’s review the body of work," she added.
 
She also disagreed with observations that Abad is using Aquino to protect himself by saying the President was the one who authorized the releases.
 
"I understand [during] that particular exchange... he was being directly asked if the President approved and he stated a matter of fact that, yes, the President approved the releases, because in the ultimate analysis, under the Constitution, it is really the President who can approve the realignments. So what other people would classify as 'panglalaglag' in the vernacular was merely, really, a statement of fact by the Budget secretary," she said.
 
Earlier, the Palace said it does no regret implementing the DAP since it benefited a lot of people.  It also said the administration "acted in good faith" when they realigned savings to use on certain projects.

On Friday, Valte said they are ready for any potential backlash after Aquino steps down from office.

"It’s a possibility but I will tell you that it does not hamper how we do our work for the remaining 728 days," she said.
 
"That is something that we’ve considered... when we all accepted ... the job to be in government," she added.
 
Asked whether Abad or the President will issue a statement about the matter, she said the public will just have to wait and see.

"As with the President, he always wants that he has the full possession of the facts surrounding the issue before he says his piece on it," Valte said. — LBG, GMA News