MANILA: President Benigno Aquino III is prepared to face impeachment charges if the Supreme Court declares the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Programme (DAP) of his administration as unconstitutional, Malacañang said yesterday.
According to Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, the president already answered the following questions the other day the president said he will face the impeachment if it happens.
Coloma made the statement after another newspaper reported yesterday that Budget Secretary Butch Abad admitted that the President could face impeachment proceedings if the Supreme Court rules against the DAP.
But Malacañang maintained that the fund scheme, which was introduced in late 2011 to stimulate the economy, has a legal basis. In a rare televised speech last month, Aquino himself defended the DAP and categorically denied that he stole public funds through the programme.
“The DAP is not theft. Theft is illegal. Spending through DAP is clearly allowed by the Constitution and by other laws. DAP is only a name for a process in which government can spend both savings and new and additional revenues,” Aquino said.
The President said those embroiled into the alleged multi-billion peso congressional fund scam were the ones behind the attacks against the DAP.
The Philippine Star
