MANILA, Feb. 4, 2015 — Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen – Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas said with the latest Supreme Court ruling on the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), people hope “those who knowingly and deliberately misused public funds in a manner declared illegal should now be investigated and…prosecuted.”
CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas (Photo: CBCPNews)
In a one-page statement issued Wednesday morning, Archbishop Villegas said the CBCP “renews its call for a government that truly serves the nation and that truly avoids all forms of corruption and deceit.”
He also called on legal academics and other concerned citizens to study the implications of the latest Supreme Court resolution on the controversial DAP.
In a statement released this morning, Villegas said “some are disturbed by the fact that the Resolution apparently lends its judicial fiat to disbursments for unappropriated items or projects.”
He said “while it does seem like the court has maintained its initial characterization of transfer of funds from one branch of government to another,” there are still pertinent concerns. He explained “under the present constitutional system, the Constitution is what the Supreme Court says its text means.”
He called on everyone to abide by the Rule of Law by complying with the latest Supreme Court reolution.
“The CBCP itself will conduct its own study with the aid of consultants and experts,” he added as he expressed optimism to introduce proposals for change, “if these should be deemed necessary, either by legislation or even by constitutional amendment.” (Melo M. Acuña/CBCPNews)
