UNA to LP: Prove you’re not using DAP funds for Binay ‘demolition’ job

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday suggested that the Liberal Party is using funds from the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to fund the purported demolition job against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

UNA interim president and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said the administration should fully account for all the funds released under DAP to prove that it is not using any to finance so-called “special operations” intended to discredit Binay and diminish his chances of winning in the 2016 elections.

“If DAP was used to bribe senators and congressmen to ensure the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, it is likely possible that the money is still around to fund other special and extra-ordinary agenda of the administration,” he said in a statement.

In particular, some funds from DAP may have gone to paying “senators for hire,” Tiangco said.

DAP became controversial after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada revealed that several senators received P50 million to P100 million after the Senate impeachment court voted to convict Corona. Certain acts under the program were subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Malacañang has appealed the decision.

While he did not mention any names, Tiangco also claimed certain administration allies are involved in accusing Binay and his family of corruption to deflect public attention from their complicity in the DAP scheme.

"DAP was not envisioned with good intentions as claimed by the Administration—but it was purely for bribery, political persecution and as [Budget] Secretary Butch Abad's money making scheme," he pointed out.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is probing the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II. Binay and his family are accused of benefiting from the allegedly overpriced project, which was built during his term as mayor.

No shortcuts with law
 
Tiangco's comments came a day after the Commission on Audit (COA) said in a report that DAP failed to meet its objective of stimulating economic growth due to the delay or failure to release of funds to project proponents.

He said the COA report should serve as a reminder for the proponents of DAP to fully account for the funds they released.

Addressing LP members, the lawmaker said: “Do not take shortcuts with the law, especially if your motives are purely political and partisan. Now you must account for what actually happened to the billions of pesos that you misappropriated.”

President Benigno Aquino III has defended DAP as an endeavor meant to boost the economy, with government savings pooled under the stimulus program going to several social welfare and education projects, among others.

No links to LP

Despite COA's findings, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone believes DAP has served its purpose.

"We maintain that [DAP] has accelerated government spending," he said in a text message.

The LP stalwart slammed UNA for again linking the ruling party to the so-called demolition job against Binay.

"That's another hallucination on the part of UNA. For the nth time, we categorically deny that LP, particularly Sec. Mar Roxas, has anything to do with the corruption problems confronting the VP," Evardone said.

Another administration ally, Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, challenged the opposition to hold a Senate inquiry to find out if DAP funds were misused.

"Call it a Senate inquiry. We will face it squarely. Hindi mababahag ang buntot namin tulad ni VP Binay," he said in a text message. — BM, GMA News