Former President Aquino has asked the Ombudsman to dismiss with finality the administrative and criminal charges filed against him for implementing the unconstitutional P72-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program.
Aquino made the request in his counter affidavit to the motion for reconsideration filed jointly by Bayan Muna Rep. Isagani Zarate and 10 other caused-oriented groups with the Ombudsman questioning the March 3 decision of the anti-graft body that cleared the former Chief Executive of any criminal liability in the utilization of the DAP.
Earlier, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad filed his motion for reconsideration assailing the Ombudsman’s finding of probable cause to charge him for usurpation of the legislative power of Congress as well as the administrative charges of simple misconduct.
The complainants’ motion for reconsideration insisted that Aquino, together with Abad, should be indicted for technical malversation of public funds, usurpation of legislative power, and corruption for diverting unspent allotments of various government agencies to the Office of the President to finance selected projects.
In a 19-page counter affidavit, Aquino said the motion for reconsideration should be discarded because the allegations cited therein were a mere rehash of issues already discussed and resolved in the decision of the Ombudsman acquitting him of the charges. (Jun Ramirez)
