Palace: ‘Old politician’ to remain unnamed

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang does not intend to name the “old politician” mentioned by President Aquino in his speech as the brains behind squid tactics and muddling of the issues over the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing yesterday that Aquino did not identify the person and they would leave it at that.

Coloma said there is no reason for speculation or guessing because the speech of the President was not meant to sow intrigue but was intended to clarify issues.

Former Senate president and now Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile is believed to be the “old politician” since Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had identified him as the one behind the privilege speech of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who accused the administration of allocating millions for projects to be identified by senators for funding after the ouster of Renato Corona as chief justice.

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the funds from DAP were intended to stimulate the economy and were not “bribes” to the senators who served as judges during the impeachment trial of Corona, who was ousted as chief justice.

Coloma said he was present when the speech was being drafted and it was not focused on a particular person.

He said though that despite attempts to muddle the issues, it was clear that DAP could not be PDAF or pork barrel because lawmakers would no longer have a say on the implementation of programs and projects under DAP, unlike in the PDAF system.

The PDAF system is already in the process of being abolished, the Palace also said.

“How can it be similar when the manner of implementation is not the same?” Coloma said.

He said the executive branch did not have the monopoly of identifying programs and projects for the people, but the administration would follow all the laws in using PDAF and DAP because of cases pending before the Supreme Court.

Coloma said the national budget circulars that became the bases for the DAP were existing and there was a “principle of presumption of regularity.”

“Even as some issues are being debated on or being adjudicated in legal processes, many constituents or citizens are affected by programs that can be carried on lawfully,” Coloma said.

The Palace also sees nothing wrong in the President’s decision to assure his “bosses” in a televised address on Thursday night that he remains trustworthy amid the muddling of issues involving the PDAF and DAP.

Coloma said systemic budget reforms were already being implemented and that questions on the legality and constitutionality of PDAF and DAP had been filed before the Supreme Court.

Coloma said Aquino’s speech was well received by the public based on their monitoring of sentiments online. He said positive feedback was at 75 percent.

He noted that the President was always aware of the public pulse and had responded to the public outrage against misuse by going after those who allegedly perpetrated it.

But Coloma said Aquino wanted “focus and clarity” since the people must be getting confused with the various issues surrounding PDAF and DAP.

Aquino said the issue was theft and he was not the thief and unlike PDAF, funds for DAP were put to good use and had tangible benefits.

He was particularly peeved at the “pork barrel king” tag because he was not the one who stole public money.