Manny Villar also willing to return DAP funds
  • 5 years ago
MANILA - Sen. Cynthia Villar on Thursday said the disbursement acceleration program (DAP) allocations of her husband, former Senator Manny Villar, went to public works projects of local government units. Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Villar said her husband did not find the DAP disbursement out of the ordinary at the time since it was normal for senators to be asked to identify projects for funding. "We looked at where it went. It's all public works so it cannot be questioned. If it was given to good causes and good projects, it's all right. It's done in good faith. Manny was saying if they will ask me to return, I'll return," she said. Villar said her husband's vote in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona was not based on his DAP allocation. She also believes there is no need to question the DAP as long as the funds were used for projects that benefited the people. This is despite the Supreme Court ruling that parts of the DAP were unconstitutional. "I don't know the rules but from a practical point of view if you want to jumpstart the economy, you have to spend. Whether they did it intentionally or did it in good faith, it's for them to answer that. I would think if it's done for a good reason, then it's OK as long as they don't do it again if it is ruled unconstitutional," she said. Villar is not adding her voice to the chorus calling for Budget Secretary Butch Abad to step down. However, she acknowledged the public may not stop until someone is held accountable for the DAP. "I don't usually ask people to resign but from experience pag may ganyang controversy, people will not stop until somebody resigns. Yan lang ang feeling ko. But for me, I don't care," she said.