P-Noy challenges SC

After hurling a veiled threat at the Supreme Court and directly questioning the unanimous 13-0 decision declaring the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional last Monday, President Aquino backtracked on Tuesday before a gathering of bankers and businessmen at Malacanang.

Aquino said he was not picking a fight with the Supreme Court despite his clear warning last Monday that the Executive and the Judiciary are on a collision course.

Justice Secretary De Lima also tried to temper the President’s harsh words saying the President is avoiding an executive-judiciary confrontation.

We are wondering why Secretaries De Lima and Ochoa did not advise the President that there is no chance the Supreme Court would reverse a 13-0 unanimous decision.

When the Supreme Court throws out the Motion for Reconsideration, it will be a further SLAP on the President and the Executive branch.

The Supreme Court issued a “no comment” reaction to the President’s speech.

Mayor Joseph Estrada warned that President Aquino’s stand might cause a constitutional crisis.

DBM finally released a partial list of DAP funded projects but it is incomplete as it did not state the amounts released and spent per project. Included in the list is P8.6 billion released for ARMM with particulars. Significantly missing is a major allocation for power projects of the Department of Energy.

Legal experts led by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno give the opinion that President Aquino, Secretary Abad and other officials may be charged with technical malversation or violation of the Anti-Graft law.

DBM Secretary Abad is justifying his creation of the DAP by saying previous presidents have also put up the DAP under a different name. This is not a valid argument.

President Aquino promised reforms, not continue past questionable policies of his predecessors.

This is the basic question: why continue the “illegal practices” of the Arroyo Administration?

Crime 18% higher

The number of crimes for the period January to May 2014 increased by 18%, from 245,000 last year to 289,000. The PNP is still insisting that it needs to recruit 30,000 civilian employees to replace uniformed policemen doing office work.

The PNP has been asking for this increase for the last 3 years but have not been given the funds to recruit personnel.

Three weeks ago, President Aquino ordered the PNP to solve the high profile murders. After a few days of checkpoints, there was no high visibility again.

Joker hits P-Noy

Former Senator Joker Arroyo said “presidential autocracy” describes President Aquino’s continuing attack on the Supreme Court.

“As the picture look currently, the President’s policy is to discredit the Judiciary and render it impotent, further subjugate Congress and make the President Supreme,” Arroyo declared.

He said, “the president’s stand tends to undermine the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of the interpretation of laws in the country.”

“What if the Supreme Court does not reconsider its 13-0 unanimous decision of the DAP? What will the President do? After all, he has practically declared a state of war with the High Court in a conflict of high and emotional drama beamed nationwide,” Arroyo added.

Reps. Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian and Toby Tiangco also accused the President of picking a fight with the Supreme Court.

Reps. Ben Evardone and Niel Tupas defended the President. Tupas even filed a bill to abolish the Judicial Development Fund of the Supreme Court. Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. also supported the President’s stand.

The Commission on Audit suddenly comes up with a report questioning the use of P3.19 billion in savings by the Supreme Court.

Wear yellow ribbons

President Aquino asked his “bosses” — the people  — to wear yellow ribbons again to demonstrate their support for his policy statement on the DAP and questioning the Supreme Court’s decision declaring it unconstitutional.

He also asked the people to send letters, e-mails and text messages to members of Congress supporting his stance and saying the release of DAP funds is what they want.

But considering his latest low approval ratings, he may not get the support he wants.

TIDBITS: The NPA rebels have been active in many provinces as clashes and ambushes have occurred in the Compostela Valley, Lanao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur and Quezon.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco announced he is building 3 more pumping stations to solve the flood problem. They now have 41 pumping stations.

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, World Bank President, praised President Aquino for his economic success and his anti-corruption campaign.

Gigi Reyes is back in Camp Bagong Diwa. Doctors said she is neurotic but can stand trial.

PGH doctors reported to the Sandiganbayan that Senator Enrile’s health condition justifies hospital or house arrest.

Ombudsman prosecutors filed a Motion to Suspend JPE from the Senate. Any suspension will be good only for 90 days.