PNoy to make public address on Monday

Under siege for the implementation of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) that was largely declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled on Monday to deliver a public address on “current national issues” in Malacañang.

“President Aquino will addresss the Filipino people on Monday, 14 July 2014 at 6 pm,” Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Coloma also requested broadcast networks “to air the President’s speech on current national issues.”

The President’s upcoming national address comes amid the administration’s attempts to deflect stinging criticisms over the P140.8-billion fiscal stimulus measure, whose key items were recently declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

His government has been under intense pressure to make certain public officials accountable for the illegal actions under DAP as well as release of the breakdown of spending from 2011 to 2013.

Last Friday, President Aquino decided to keep Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in his cabinet as he stood firmly behind the positive effects of the DAP on the economy.

The President rejected Abad’s offer to resign, saying accepting his resignation would imply he was wrong in implementing the DAP.

“To accept his resignation is to assign him a wrong and I cannot accept the notion that doing right by our people is a wrong,” Aquino said.

Breaking his silence on the issue, Abad has thanked President Aquino for his continued trust and confidence and chose “to defer to his better judgment and stay.

Abad, a close political ally of the President, was earlier silent about the DAP despite increased calls to make him liable for the unconstitutional acts under DAP.

Since the SC ruling against DAP was issued, the President’s spokesmen have taken turns justifying the DAP has benefited the people and that there was no misuse of the funds on the part of the executive branch.

They also argued the administration exercised good faith and due diligence in implementing the DAP despite the adverse SC ruling.

Last year, President Aquino made a similar public address in defense of the DAP, a mechanism that realigned savings to fund projects in order to stimulate economic growth, in the wake allegations it was used to bribe some senators who convicted then Chief Justice Renato Corona.