Maniolas

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad on Monday described as “far-fetched” the opposition coalition’s claim that P1 billion from the disbursement acceleration program (DAP) was allocated to a senator. In a text message, Abad said the United Nationalist Alliance, particularly its secretary general, Navotas Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, should be held “responsible and accountable for their public statements.” “Does he [Tiangco] have any document to base that conclusion on?… We cannot react to a general allegation like that,” the budget chief said. He added that the Department of Budget and Management is still in the process of collating information on DAP funds allocated to lawmakers. “We are being careful about precisely attributing projects to legislators… We want this done as soon as we can,” Abad said. On Sunday, Tiangco pressed Abad to come up with a more detailed report on the DAP, including copies of all request letters from legislators. The UNA official said he received “information” that P1 billion from the DAP went to one senator, whom Tiangco did not identify. Certain acts under the DAP have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, including the pooling of savings before the end of a fiscal year. The high court’s ruling on the controversial spending mechanism was appealed by the executive branch. Abad is facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly “systematically misappropriating” DAP funds. ‘Pure speculation’ Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Tiangco’s allegation is “pure speculation.” “I will not dignify these characters with a response. Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday swore in 38 government officials, including former Armed Forces chief Emmanuel Bautista and actor Dingdong Dantes. Bautista was officially inducted as an undersecretary under the Office of the President, primarily tasked to coordinate the Cabinet’s security, justice and peace cluster. The oath-taking came a month after Bautista retired from the military service. He relinquished the military leadership to General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. Actor Dingdong Dantes, meanwhile, has been appointed commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission (NYC). Dantes’  fiancée, actress Marian Rivera, accompanied the actor during the event. Aquino also administered the oath of office of five recently appointed undersecretaries. They were: – Former Navy chief Jose Luis Alano (Office of the Executive Secretary),– Donato Marcos (Department of Energy)– Jan Co Chua (Presidential Communications Operations Office),– Prudencio Reyes Jr. and Nora Terrado (Department of Trade and Industry). Former Navy chief Alexander Pama was meanwhile inducted as acting administrator of the Office of Civil Defense. —Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

Adolf Azcuna. The Supreme Court congratulates retired Justice Adolf Azcuna for his appointment to the International Commission on Jurists (ICJ). Philippine Judicial Academy file photo The Supreme Court on Sunday congratulated former Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna for his selection to the International Commission on Jurists. Malacañang on Saturday announced Azcuna’s election as one of the five new commissioners of the ICJ. Azcuna is first Filipino to be appointed to the ICJ, and will serve a five-year term as Commissioner, though he will continue to work from Manila. “Congratulations to Retired SC AJ and Philja Chancellor for his selection to the International Commission on Jurists (ICJ),” the high court said in a tweet. ICJ is composed of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world. A Palace statement said the ICJ “promotes and protects human rights through the Rule of Law, by using its unique legal expertise to develop and strengthen national and international justice systems.” Before his election, Azcuna had served as Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy since 2009. From 2002-2009, he was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. “He brings his wealth of experience and wisdom to the ICJ. We are confident that ICJ will benefit from his long years as a jurist and as a trainor of judges,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

Malacañang on Saturday said the Supreme Court did not seek funding for electronic courts (e-courts) for 2014 and 2015, in reply to reports quoting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as saying a lack of funds may threaten the creation of such courts. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they checked the Department of Budget and Management’s records and found the high court did not request funds for the purpose. “Wala rin sila ni-request na pondo for the e-courts for 2014 and 2015,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. Earlier this week, Sereno lamented key reform programs, including the creation of more electronic courts, are being threatened by a lack of funds. She said these e-courts provide random electronic system and raffling, which remove human intermediation that makes courts prone to corruption. “The problem is that the executive department deleted our request for funding of more e-courts,” she said. Still, Sereno appealed to the public to continue believing in the judiciary. “Judiciary is strong if the people believe in it… I hope the people will work for a strong and independent judiciary,” she added. Meanwhile, Valte said the executive department acted on the judiciary’s request for an information technology project, the Enterprise Information Systems Plan (EISP). “Sa ating nakikita, at least under this administration, patuloy ang suporta na binibigay sa kasamahan natin sa judiciary,” she said.  — Joel Locisn /LBG, GMA News

President Benigno Aquino III’s announcement that he will celebrate the end of his term by July 1, 2016 should be enough to stop those who are pushing for his term extension, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Friday. “The statement of the President…should now end all these divisive efforts to amend the political provisions of the Constitution,” he said in a press statement, referring to moves to extend the President’s term beyond 2016. In a radio interview last Thursday Aquino said he is