mod_php-4.3.4-r4 depends on apr and fails to compile when the USE flag "apr" is not set, but setting USE="apr" it builds ok Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce:
PHP does NOT depend on APR at all. I don't know where you are seeing USE=apr, but it ain't anything of my PHP eclass and ebuilds. I strongly suggest you check what's going on, as it's probably subversion messing you around.