President Aquino on Tuesday (US time) said Budget Secretary Florencio
“Butch” Abad should answer reports that members of the ruling Liberal
Party (LP) cornered most of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP)
funds.
“Perhaps, I think the question should be better directed to Secretary
Abad who would know all of the details and would have the details on
hand,” Aquino said, when asked to comment on the disclosure of United
Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesman Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco that 10
members of the LP headed the list of recipients of millions of pesos
worth of funds released via the DAP.
The top 10 DAP recipients, according to Tiangco, are: former Rep.
Joseph Abaya, now the acting LP president (P408 million); Speaker
Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. (P297.4 million); Majority Floor Leader
Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II (P263 million); former Rep. Erineo “Ayong”
Maliksi (P217.8 million); former Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel (P179.5
million); Deputy Speaker Henedina Abad (P176.6 million); former Rep.
Edgar San Luis (P160.2 million); former Rep. Tomas Osmeña (P124.1
million); former Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada (P120.5 million); and Rep.
Nelson Collantes (P110 million).
Tiangco told reporters in Manila that the DAP list was based on
uploaded information from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
website.
Meanwhile, the President denied allegations that his allies have been
spared by his administration’s campaign against corruption.
He cited the cases of former Commission on Elections (Comelec)
commissioner Grace Padaca and former Laguna Lake Development Authority
(LLDA) general manager Nereus Acosta as proof that everyone is covered
by the anti-graft drive.
During the World Leaders Forum in Columbia University Aquino,
Liwayway Arce, a student from the Philippines, asked him if his
anti-corruption slogan also applies to everybody under the Philippine
flag, including his friends.
Arce, a Master of Law student who claimed to have voted for Aquino
because of his “Daang Matuwid” (Straight Path) slogan, raised the
question, noting that “topmost or highest officials in government,
including Cabinet members have been implicated in issues questioning
their integrity.”
Aquino was quick to point out that his predecessor – former President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – is in jail as well as three incumbent
senators, referring to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and
Ramon “Bong Revilla Jr.
“Their cohorts in the pork barrel scam are also in jail, in detention awaiting trial,” Aquino added.
Apparently dissatisfied with the President’s response, Arce shot back: “Anyone form the Liberal Party, Mr. President?”
That was the time, Aquino named Padaca and Acosta.
“There are two that have been accused that have posted bail because
they were not charged with plunder previously. Grace Padaca and Nereus
Acosta come to mind.”
“Perhaps, you should look at other websites besides the ones you have been watching,” Aquino added.
Meanwhile, President Aquino got another heckling Tuesday during his speaking engagement at the Columbia University.
But the President said he has gotten used to dealing with hecklers that he wanted to answer their grievances.
“Sanay naman na tayo doon (I’m used to that already),” Aquino told
Manila-based reporters covering his US trip. He said he wants to listen
to what the hecklers have to say.
At a press briefing at the Omni Berkshire Hotel, which followed his
attendance at the World Leaders Forum in Columbia University, Aquino
said he had wanted to talk to the hecklers.
“Can I finish answering the question,” Aquino told one of the hecklers who took turns on interrupting his talk.
After the hecklers were escorted out of the Low Memorial Library in
Columbia University where the forum was held, they were seen joining a
group of protesters apparently affiliated with Gabriela and Bayan based
on their protest placards.
They kept on shouting: “No justice, no peace! Stop the killings in the Philippines.”
Last Monday, Aquino was also heckled at the Harvard University in
Cambridge, Massachusetts. He experienced the same last week in France.
In Harvard, Aquino calmly answered back to a heckler who asked him
why would his government buy arms knowing that it does not create jobs
nor does it expand the economy of the Philippines.
Also this year in Naga City, Aquino was also heckled in the middle of his Independence Day speech.
But Aquino said he was taught by his father, the late Senator Benigno
Aquino Jr., that in a democracy one should be willing to listen to the
ideas of others to lead to a “synthesis.”
