DAP a big X on record The legend of the unsullied collector

DURING THE oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program of the Aquino administration, there were several revelations that bolstered the view that it is unconstitutional. The defenders of the DAP admitted that the President indeed augmented the budget not only of the executive department but also of the other two branches—the legislative and the judiciary.

Sensing that there is a big chance that the high tribunal might declare its unconstitutionality after the revelations, the lawyers of the government used the “moot and academic” strategy by saying that DAP is already ineffective and its use stopped in 2013. This recent declaration that DAP is already gone is a way to prevent an X mark on the report card of the Aquino administration.

Mr. Aquino and his men do not want a single record of having an unconstitutional government action. Surely the Supreme Court will not let it pass just like that. I hope the executive gets a beating from the high court even if it insisted that the controversy is already moot and academic. VERY OFTEN, when my husband Orly and I sigh over the futile attempts to clean up the Aegean stable that is the Bureau of Customs, we pine for the days when Guillermo Orbos was the muchrespected Collector at the Port of Manila.

Orly told stories of Orbos’ legendary integrity; how he even refused invitations for dinner but accepted only those for lunch at simple restaurants. The Orbos siblings inherited an honorable and unsullied name.