Drilon on SC ruling on DAP: ‘Let’s move on’

Senate President Franklin Drilon opens the First Session of the Senate for the Year 2015 on Tuesday (Jan. 20, 2015) at the Senate Building in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday encouraged the public to move on after the Supreme Court (SC) modified its July 2014 ruling declaring parts of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.

”Let us move on. They instated what we knew – that it was done in presumption of good faith, the presumption of regularity in the performance of functions that got confused in the earlier decision, this time they clarified it,” Drilon said in media interview.

Based SC ruling, the high court en banc partially granted the motion for reconsideration by removing from the list of unconstitutional acts the funding of projects, activities and programs that were not covered by any appropriation in the General Appropriations Act.

”I think everybody has accepted the decision. The Supreme Court has spoken. Let us move on,” Drilon said.

Drilon has admitted that he received DAP funds including Php200 million used for the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

The SC, however, affirmed previous decision that the other parts of the DAP are unconstitutional.

These are the declaration of the withdrawn unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations as savings prior to the end of the fiscal year; the cross-border transfers of the savings; and, the use of unprogrammed funds despite the absence of a certification by the National Treasurer.