BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – There is little chance that the Supreme Court would reverse its ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), the chairman of the House of Representatives’ justice committee said.
Malacañang will file a motion for reconsideration, President Benigno Aquino announced on Monday.
“It has almost no chance based on how the Supreme Court voted,” Cong. Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas Jr. of Iloilo’s 5th District told Panay News.
On July 1, the Supreme Court voted 13-0 against DAP, ruling some of its salient points unconstitutional.
However, the Ilonggo solon said he supports President Aquino’s explanation on DAP.
Aquino said DAP had legal basis and addressed the backlog in classrooms and the electrification program to name a few.
Tupas said the so-called stimulus package benefitted Filipinos.
“The SC should not forget that laws are made for people and a too legalistic interpretation of the law could frustrate its spirit and intent,” Tupas said.
Iloilo City’s Cong. Jerry Treñas is not optimistic, too, about the government’s appeal to the Supreme Court.
“But in so far as implementing the DAP in good faith, I think they should revisit that…in the Philippines, we still follow the same rule that everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” said Treñas.
In a text message to Panay News, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito called Aquino “arrogant” in defending the Department of Budget and Management-designed program.
“He issued a threat to the Supreme Court, a co-equal branch of government, instead of respecting its decision,” Ejercito said.
The neophyte senator revealed he allocated his DAP funds for milk distribution and training of call center agents in San Juan City.
Aquino, according Ejercito, should respect the “check and balance” being provided by the Supreme Court as mandated by the Constitution.
Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said he will be surprised if the High Tribunal reverses its ruling on DAP.
“History and the odds do not favor the reversal of SC ruling on DAP,” said Angara.
While he believes the implementation of DAP was done in good faith, the reversal of the recent decision is “very unlikely.”
Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, on the other hand, said Aquino did the right thing in defending DAP./PN
