Lawmakers are counting on incoming justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to conduct a fair and square investigation on officials of the outgoing Aquino administration who were supposedly involved in the implementation and commission of illegal acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Malacañang, however, was quick to brush aside the allegations, saying that President Aquino broke no law in carrying out the DAP and that “As Chief Executive, President Aquino faithfully followed the Constitution and the laws of the land.” Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, a Liberal Party stalwart, and AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, spokesperson of the House party-list bloc, asked the Duterte administration to pursue cases against those involved at all cost. “We expect a fair and square filing of charges. But such case will depend on evidence,” Umali said. “At the end of the day, the conviction will rest on the strength of prosecution evidence, and [...]
