Maniolas

(Updated 9:28 p.m.) Senators on Tuesday lauded the Supreme Court ruling that found the Aquino administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program unconstitutional, saying the high tribunal in doing so upheld Congress’ exclusive authority to set the national budget. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, whose privilege speech put the DAP in the spotlight, said budget officials must be held liable for certain acts declared unconstitutional by the high tribunal. “Now that the highest court of the land said that the DAP mechanism is unconstitutional and illegal, heads must roll and budget officials must be held accountable,” Estrada said in a statement issued by his office Tuesday while he is in detention in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. Estrada commended the high court for “respecting and upholding Congress’ exclusive power of the purse.” Earlier in the day, the SC declared certain “acts and practices” under the DAP as unconstitutional, including the use of withdrawn unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations as savings. The DAP started making headlines last September after Estrada bared during a privilege speech that he and other senators who favored former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s conviction in 2012 received P50 million in additional funds after the impeachment trial. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad later admitted that the additional funds came from the DAP, but maintained that the allocations were neither bribes nor incentives. Estrada delivered the speech after he, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. were charged with plunder and graft before the Ombudsman in connection with the pork Read More …

The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division on Tuesday ordered former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo suspended for 90 days in connection with her involvement in the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal. The Office of the Ombudsman in December 2011 filed graft charges against the former President for supposedly approving the $329-million NBN-ZTE contract, despite being “fully aware” of its supposed irregularities. Arroyo has pleaded not guilty to the accusations. “Accused Ma. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is ordered suspended from office pendente lite and said accused is hearby directed to cease and desist from performing and/or enjoying the salaries, benefits and privileges of her present public position or any other public office or position she may now or hereafter be holding, effective upon motive hereof and continuing for a period of ninety days,” the court said. The order, dated June 26, also tasked House Speaker Sonny Belmote to implement the suspension order. The Fourth Division cited Section 13 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which states that any public officer charged with graft can be suspended from office. Meanwhile, Arroyo is given 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration of the suspension, after which the order will come into effect. —NB, GMA News