‘Inaccuracies’ in op-ed by De Jesus clarified

Kindly allow me to point out some inaccuracies in the commentary “DAP: thinking in time” (Opinion, 11/2/13) by Edilberto de Jesus, to enlighten the readers of the Inquirer.

First, De Jesus wrote that “the Senate impeached Corona.” The Senate did not impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona. It was the House of Representatives that impeached Corona with the Articles of Impeachment which was transmitted to the Senate. The Senate then constituted itself as the impeachment court, as provided for in our Constitution and later found Corona “guilty” on the Article on the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Second, De Jesus wrote that the “Commission on Audit only saw the evidence of the [Priority Development Assistance Fund] scam at about the same time that the Napoles staff started blowing the whistle.” Absolutely incorrect. No less than COA Chair Grace Pulido-Tan admitted that the agency already had the findings before the P10-billion pork barrel scam was exposed by the Inquirer in mid-July. In fact, Tan said during the Senate hearing that the Inquirer “validated” the COA’s audit report.

Third, De Jesus wrote that “the COA took so long to undertake the audit… it bears stressing that the order (COA audit report) to do the same came only with the advent of the Aquino administration.” Not true. The report covered a three-year period (2007 to 2009); and it takes time (years) to undertake audit reports. There has never been an issue on “why the COA took so long to undertake the audit,” except now that De Jesus is raising it.

It is absolutely not true that “the order (audit report) to do the same came only with the advent of the Aquino administration.” The order, dated May 13, 2010, was directed when Reynaldo Villar was still the COA chair. He was appointed by then President Gloria Arroyo upon the retirement of Guillermo Carague in February 2008. It is ironic that President Aquino later pressured Villar to resign his post. P-Noy later even accused him of being involved in the plunder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

The audit was undertaken by the team headed by Director Susan P. Garcia. She signed and submitted the report thereon. It must be pointed out that Tan, who was appointed by President Aquino only in 2011, had nothing to do with the report. She only released it.

Fourth, De Jesus wrote that “given this presumption (of PDAF’s legality), the administration, in implementing DAP, allowed 9 percent of the [Disbursement Acceleration Program] funds to be treated like the PDAF, allowing the legislators to recommend projects, as long as they met DAP guidelines.” President Aquino, in his speech on prime-time TV last Oct. 30, insisted that DAP is ” not pork barrel.”

Lastly, De Jesus said “ít is disappointing that former senator Ping Lacson should ask why senators have to be consulted if the DAP targeted already approved projects.” Lacson asked a valid question on why senators had to be involved.

—R. B. RAMOS,

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