Vice President Jejomar Binay sees the Ombudsman probe into President Benigno Aquino III and Budget Secretary Florencio Abadâs implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as just drama.
âDrama. Walang mangyayari. Kung totoo yan, di sinuspende na agad [sila],â Binay said in an interview at the Amoranto Complex in Quezon City.
âSinasabi ko lamang [âyan] on the basis of what had happened in the past. You can already speculate what will be the ending,â he added, noting that the investigation seems to be part of a protracted âteleserye.â
The Vice President said he believes the investigation only aims to exhaust the issue so the public will forget about it in 2016.
âBastaât ako, my feeling is drama lang ito para ngayon pa lang ay mapatay na âyong mga bintang at kung anu-ano. Kasi issue âyan sa darating na halalan,â Binay said.
He noted that despite his and Aquinoâs immunity from suit, they could still be subject to investigation by the Ombudsman.
âMeron kaming immunity from suit din. Pero for the purposes of indictment, for the purposes of investigation, meron hong karapatan ang Ombudsman na mag-imbestiga,â he said.
The Vice President added he believes the Ombudsman probe has basis especially in light of the Supreme Courtâs decision that DAP is unconstitutional.
In February this year, the high court ruled that DAP violated Section 25(5), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers of the executive and legislative branches.
Binay also said that should he be elected president in 2016, he will push for the investigation on DAP and government officials involved.
âKung may ebidensya po, bakit hindi? Kailangan ay âyong may mga kasalanan sa administrasyong ito, lalong-lalo na si Mr. Abad, [papanagutin]. Pangit naman po âyon [kung hindi]. Magiging selective justice. Kung may ebidensya, dapat ihabla,â he said.
As for Aquino, the Vice President said he will leave it to the Department of Justice to determine whether or not the president could be charged.#