The Supreme Court deferred the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). In a press briefing on Friday, SC spokesperson Theodore Te said the consolidated petitions challenging the DAP will be heard first on the oral arguments set on November 11 at 10 a.m. In an urgent motion for the issuance of TRO filed last Monday, former Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco, one of the petitioners who have assailed the constitutionality of the stimulus program, said the Aquino government should not be allowed to use the DAP to augment relief and rehabilitation operations in Bohol and Cebu. Syjuco said government should stop allocating public funds under the DAP because it is unconstitutional. ANC, October 25, 2013