DAP funds used for spying, bribes?

MANILA - Projects funded by the disbursement acceleration program are under question following the Supreme Court decision to strike down the controversial measure. The United Nationalist Alliance wants Budget Secretary Butch Abad to disclose the list of DAP-funded projects. UNA secretary-general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco believes part of the DAP may have been used to serve political ends. He alleged the purchase of high-frequency radio gadgets worth millions may have been used to spy on the opposition. "They did not deny that they bought the gadget. They just denied spying on the opposition pero since 2012 pa nabili yung gadget na yun so saan ginamit kundi sa pang-espiya sa opposition," Tiangco said. "Under the Wiretapping Act, you have to get a court order to use wiretapping equipment. My challenge to them is ipakita yung in-apply niyong court order para gamitin yung wiretapping equipment kasi never dineny. Kung sinabing di ginamit sa opposition kanino ginamit? Sa kalaban ng gobyerno? NPA o terrorist?" But an Aquino ally says the claim is baseless. "Feeling masyadong importante na yata ang opposition para espiyahan pa ng administrasyon. Parang 2016 na lagi. Maybe the secretary can answer that in an executive session," Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said. Tiangco says they plan to bring up the matter during the next round of budget hearings. Budget chief Butch Abad meanwhile asserts there is no truth to the allegation DAP funds were used to buy spying gadgets, adding the executive is still studying legal options regarding the DAP. Erice, a member of the Liberal Party, points out no less than Vice-President Jejomar Binay and the agencies he heads also benefited from DAP. This includes an estimated P11.4 billion for housing projects for informal settlers. Tiangco said the National Housing Authority is under the operation, supervision, and control of the Office of the President. "Sa attempt na idawit si Vice President Binay, lalong na-kanal si PNoy dito. The GM is Chito Cruz, who is the classmate of PNoy kaya lalong na-kanal," he said. Erice said critics should not rush into judgment or impeachment moves and should just wait for government's justification on the use of DAP. Tiangco, however, said there is no good faith in the alleged offer of bribes to senators who voted to convict then Chief Justice Renato Corona. "Yung pumirma ng impeachment sa Congress at yung reward sa nagconvict kay Corona good faith at good intention ba yun when it was a bribe, there is never good intention sa bribery," he said. ANC DATELINE PHILIPPINES, July 8, 2014