Palace: Officials involved in DAP innocent till proven guilty - GMA News

At least for now, officials involved in the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program will stay at their posts despite a call by Catholic bishops for their ouster, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday.

Valte said that while the Palace agrees with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' call for vigilance, the officials are innocent until proven guilty.

“We agree with the statement of the CBCP in as far as it exhorts government to be vigilant about public funds and make sure walang nagagastos. But we have a legal system (and it) is only fair to afford anyone, either opposition or administration, to undergo the ... legal process,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

“Meron tayong sinusunod na prosesong legal at meron tayong sinusundan na (presumed) innocent until proven guilty,” she added.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court declared parts of the DAP unconstitutional. This prompted militants to disclose plans to lodge an impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino III.

On the other hand, Valte said the high court's ruling should not hamper ongoing “budget reforms.”

“We will not allow it to deter other budgetary reforms. Marami tayong nagawa in the past four years when it comes to making the budget transparent and making sure its use is efficient,” she said.

On Friday, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines reiterated its warning against selective justice on the DAP, and urged government to "let go" of those involved, even if they are from its ranks.

In a statement signed by CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the CBCP also called on the Commission on Audit and on the Office of the Ombudsman to "tell the nation where DAP funds went."

"While, indeed, in many cases, it would be impractical, unhelpful even, to undo every project funded by what the High Court has ruled to be unconstitutional means, we must nevertheless know how these monies were used, for where there was illegal and immoral application of funds, there must be restitution," it said.

Also, the CBCP stressed the need for accountability, adding investigation and inquest "cannot and must not be selective."

It said a public perception that some are shielded while others are persecuted "detracts from the confidence people must repose in their institutions."

"A government that professes to tread the straight path must remain true to that profession and must be willing to let go of the corrupt in its own ranks! We in the Church will do the same," it said.

On the other hand, it also stressed the prosecution and punishment "of a few will not rid the nation of the propensity to corruption that is found in us all."

Meanwhile, Valte disagreed with a reported claim by former Sen. Joker Arroyo – who served as executive secretary under the presidency of Aquino's late mother Corazon – that Congress allowed the Palace to usurp its power of the purse like a “willing rape victim.”

“That is the former senator's opinion... but obviously we disagree,” Valte said but added the Palace will not debate further with Arroyo on the issue. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

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