Aquino allies: No irregularities in add'l funds released after Corona conviction
President Benigno Aquino III's allies at the Senate on
Monday maintained that there were no irregularities in the government's
release of discretionary funds to senators months after they voted to
oust former Chief Justice Renato Corona in May last year.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, who is aligned with the Aquino-chaired Liberal Party (LP), said that it was only "normal" for the executive to ask lawmakers to submit a list of proposed projects for the second half of the year.
"Para sa akin walang bribery. In my case, I did not receive a single centavo during the impeachment. Before the trial, prudence dictates na huwag kang humingi. After the trial, tapos na ang issue, we were requested to submit a list of projects and I complied," Recto told reporters Monday.
He, however, admitted that he was not aware that the fund releases will be on top of senators' annual P200-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
"Wala akong alam na DAP [Disbursement Acceleration Program] noong panahon. It's only now that I hear of such an animal," Recto said.
'No arrangements'
On Saturday, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad came out with a statement admitting that discretionary funds under the government's DAP, ranging from P100 million to P50 million, were released to senators months after Corona was convicted by the Senate impeachment court.
Abad issued the statement days after Senator Jinggoy Estrada revealed in a privilege speech that P50 million in additional funds were released to senators who voted in favor of Corona's conviction.
Abad explained that the DAP releases were meant "to ramp up spending and help accelerate economic expansion." He added that attributing this funds to Corona's conviction is "inaccurate at best and irresponsible at worst."
Senator Sergio Osmeña, who is also aligned with the Senate majority, likewise said that the DAP release should not be linked to Corona's conviction.
"There was no arrangement na sinabi nila sa akin na if you vote for (the conviction), I will give this to you. No, hindi ako tatanggap na ganoon," Osmeña said in a separate interview.
He added that he allocated his DAP release to the University of the Philippines and for the construction of classrooms in the Visayas.
Bribery?
Former Senator Joker Arroyo, who voted to acquit Corona, however said that the release of the DAP to senators months after Corona's conviction may constitute "impropriety" or even "outright bribery."
"The accusation that Malacanang 'rewarded' the senators who voted to convict puts Malacanang on a slippery slope, placing the charge of at least impropriety, if not outright bribery, right at the presidential doorstep," Arroyo said in a statement over the weekend.
He also criticized Abad for issuing a "deceptively crafted press release" which identified him as one of the senators who received pork barrel funds after Corona's conviction.
Arroyo explained that the P47 million he received was specified under the 2013 national budget, and not part of the PDAF.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who also voted for Corona's acquittal, said that the government may have violated the equal protection clause in the 1987 Constitution when it released the DAP only to some senators.
“In releasing funds, the executive branch cannot play favorites when carrying out constitutional commands such as social justice, social services, and equal work opportunities.
The DAP releases, flawed as they were from the very beginning, played favorites among senators.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, who is aligned with the Aquino-chaired Liberal Party (LP), said that it was only "normal" for the executive to ask lawmakers to submit a list of proposed projects for the second half of the year.
"Para sa akin walang bribery. In my case, I did not receive a single centavo during the impeachment. Before the trial, prudence dictates na huwag kang humingi. After the trial, tapos na ang issue, we were requested to submit a list of projects and I complied," Recto told reporters Monday.
He, however, admitted that he was not aware that the fund releases will be on top of senators' annual P200-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
"Wala akong alam na DAP [Disbursement Acceleration Program] noong panahon. It's only now that I hear of such an animal," Recto said.
'No arrangements'
On Saturday, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad came out with a statement admitting that discretionary funds under the government's DAP, ranging from P100 million to P50 million, were released to senators months after Corona was convicted by the Senate impeachment court.
Abad issued the statement days after Senator Jinggoy Estrada revealed in a privilege speech that P50 million in additional funds were released to senators who voted in favor of Corona's conviction.
Abad explained that the DAP releases were meant "to ramp up spending and help accelerate economic expansion." He added that attributing this funds to Corona's conviction is "inaccurate at best and irresponsible at worst."
Senator Sergio Osmeña, who is also aligned with the Senate majority, likewise said that the DAP release should not be linked to Corona's conviction.
"There was no arrangement na sinabi nila sa akin na if you vote for (the conviction), I will give this to you. No, hindi ako tatanggap na ganoon," Osmeña said in a separate interview.
He added that he allocated his DAP release to the University of the Philippines and for the construction of classrooms in the Visayas.
Bribery?
Former Senator Joker Arroyo, who voted to acquit Corona, however said that the release of the DAP to senators months after Corona's conviction may constitute "impropriety" or even "outright bribery."
"The accusation that Malacanang 'rewarded' the senators who voted to convict puts Malacanang on a slippery slope, placing the charge of at least impropriety, if not outright bribery, right at the presidential doorstep," Arroyo said in a statement over the weekend.
He also criticized Abad for issuing a "deceptively crafted press release" which identified him as one of the senators who received pork barrel funds after Corona's conviction.
Arroyo explained that the P47 million he received was specified under the 2013 national budget, and not part of the PDAF.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who also voted for Corona's acquittal, said that the government may have violated the equal protection clause in the 1987 Constitution when it released the DAP only to some senators.
“In releasing funds, the executive branch cannot play favorites when carrying out constitutional commands such as social justice, social services, and equal work opportunities.
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