Drilon expresses full support to President Aquino, Abad amidst political attacks

Sen. Franklin Drilon delivers his speech at the Wallace Business Forum in 2013. Photo by Joseph Vidal/PRIB via Drilon’s Facebook page.

MANILA — Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday expressed his full support for President Benigno Aquino III and Budget and Management Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad amidst political attacks triggered by the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that declared the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.

”The President, with the help of Secretary Abad, has implemented a number of economic reforms and anti-corruption measures, which were not possible in previous administrations,” Drilon said in a press statement.

The Senate President said the reforms have resulted in improved investor confidence and an attractive business climate.

”These results were translated into more job and education opportunities, improved health and basic social services and more infrastructure projects,” Drilon said.

”It was only directly due to President Aquino and Abad’s efforts that the country now enjoys its highest credit rating despite the damages left by numerous calamities,” he added.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said the DBM Secretary should resign “to spare the President from further embarrassment.”

Drilon came in defense of Abad whose initiative has led “to genuine reforms towards a more open and transparent national budgetary process and improved procurement procedures have been effectively implemented.”

”Notwithstanding the SC’s ruling, the DAP was fully used to improve the economy, and was not used as a mechanism for corruption or abuse,” he said.

Drilon said the SC ruling on the DAP does not take away the achievements made by the Aquino administration especially in terms of uplifting the economy, improving transparency and accountability, and fighting corruption in government.