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Friday, April 7, 2017
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MANILA – The Ombudsman on Thursday ordered former president Benigno Aquino III and all parties involved in the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to submit their comments on the motions for reconsideration filed against the controversial budget policy.
“The parties to the DAP cases, including Aquino, have 15 days from notice within which to file comment,” a statement from the Office of the Ombudsman read.
Former budget secretary Florencio Abad, and complainant Bayan Muna representative Carlos Isagani Zarate filed separate appeals last month after the Ombudsman cleared Aquino and former budget undersecretary Mario Relampagos from charges over the alleged illegal implementation of the P72-billion DAP in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Abad was the only official found liable for the issuance of National Budget Circular No. 541 that authorized the withdrawal of unobligated allotments of agencies with low levels of obligations as of June 30, 2012.
Abad unlawfully encroached on the powers of Congress by effectively modifying the provisions on savings of the 2012 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Ombudsman said in its decision.
“The issuance of this circular is an act of usurpation. This is contrary to law,” the decision read. (ABS-CBN News)
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