Ombudsman Investigates Pres. Aquino & Sec. Abad in Connection with DAP

The President of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad are under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the government’s controversial and discontinued Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Ombudsman

According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, her office began the investigation moto proprio, or on its own initiative, after the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines struck down as unconstitutional the DAP.

The Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is a stimulus program launched in 2011 to pump-prime the economy of the Philippines.

The Office of the Ombudsman named Pres. Aquino, Abad and “others who appear to have been involved in the conception of the DAP,” as possible respondents if the inquiry should find sufficient basis for filing a case in the Sandiganbayan.

The Malacanang Palace through Presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. said that while the Ombudsman had the power to investigate the President, no suit could be filed against him during his term of office.

Budget Secretary Butch Abad on his part said that he would cooperate in the inquiry to put a closure to the controversial issue involving the DAP.

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