3rd tranche of evidence on DAP mess submitted to DOJ

FILE: The Coalition for Investigation and Prosecution, led by former Manila councilor Greco Belgica, submitted Friday the third tranche of documents that would enable the Department of Justice (DOJ) to build up possible criminal cases against former president Benigno Aquino III and other officials over the alleged misuse of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Coalition for Investigation and Prosecution, led by former Manila councilor Greco Belgica, submitted Friday the third tranche of documents that would enable the Department of Justice (DOJ) to build up possible criminal cases against former president Benigno Aquino III and other officials over the alleged misuse of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds.

Submitted to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in a letter were:

* The Supreme Court Resolution dated Nov. 22, 2001 in the case entitled: Hacienda Luisita vs. Agrarian Reform Council, et. al. docketed as GR No. 171101;

* The list of the 82 Congressmen who received DAP on Nov. 23, 2011 amounting to PHP819 million;

* The first tranche of DAP cross boarder releases to members of the House of Representatives between Oct. 12, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2011;

* Journal No. 41 dated May 22, 2012 of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona where he stated that the first reason why he was on trial was because of the Hacienda Luisita decision;

*The Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Corona that was received by the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives on Dec. 12, 2011 at 9 p.m. and transmitted to the Philippine Senate the following day;

* The first tranche of DAP cross boarder releases to members of the Senate between Nov. 16, 2011 and Dec. 22, 2011;

* The list of Senators who received DAP on Dec. 13, 2011 or on the day the Articles of Impeachment was filed before the Philippine Senate;

* Journal No. 40 dated May 16, 2012 of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona where Senator Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel testified that she was among those who filed a letter of complaint with evidence before the Ombudsman, which served as basis for the latter to write to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and then write to the Chief Justice purportedly to comment on the complaint, but which confidential letter was later used to spread the false news that the Chief Justice owns 82 US dollar accounts amounting to USD10 million; and

*Journal No. 43 dated May 25, 2012 of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona where the Chief Justice testified that the Ombudsman was used by the administration to destroy him.

“These documents will prove that DAP was conceptualized and implemented to ensure that Chief Justice Corona is impeached and convicted of the charges against him,” read the letter.

It added that these pieces of evidence show that some 82 Congressmen received PHP819-million worth of DAP on Nov. 23, 2011, the day after the Hacienda Luisita decision was promulgated.

The letter also stated that on Oct. 25, 2011 to Dec. 8, 2011, “the DAP authors and co-conspirators gave a total of PHP1,565,204,474 worth of DAP fund to 124 Congressmen”.

On Dec. 13, 2011, the same day the Articles of Impeachment was filed before the Senate, 11 senators received a total of PHP732.91 million, and from Nov. 16, 2011 to Dec. 21, 2011, 21 senators received PHP1.91 billion.

Belgica said they submitted to Aguirre’s office the third set of evidence records that they gathered that would show a conspiracy between the Aquino administration and some lawmakers for the alleged misuse of DAP funds.

Belgica submitted the first tranche of documents on DAP in September last year, and the second tranche last February 1.

He formally asked the DOJ to conduct a fact-finding investigation and called on the department to expedite the probe, saying that the evidence gathered so far would already suffice to charge the former officials in court.

Earlier, Aguirre ordered the NBI to conduct the probe based on the complaint filed by the Coalition for Investigation and Prosecution, represented by Belgica.

The DOJ has already created a team led by Undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr. to conduct the probe and build-up of possible cases.

To recall, the Supreme Court had declared DAP unconstitutional.

The Ombudsman had cleared Aquino and junked the technical malversation charges against former budget secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad and instead filed usurpation of legislative powers against the latter.