House Panel Speaks on Confidential Funds Spending Issue against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
HOUSE PANEL – The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability may suggest a case versus Vice President Sara Duterte over the spending of the Confidential Funds.
The deliberation of the 2025 budget proposal of the Office of the Vice President was controversial. The office of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was asking for a P2 billion budget for 2025. It does not include Confidential Funds but the P10 million allotted for the distribution of the book authored by Duterte hooked public attention.
On the first hearing set for the deliberation of the 2025 budget proposal of the OVP, Vice Pres. Duterte had a spar with some House members. The inquiry was rescheduled but Duterte was no show at the resumption of the House deliberation of the OVP budget proposal.
In a statement, the Vice President stressed that she has given her position on the issues and she leaves the decision to the House of Representatives. Her absence at the hearing left several House members disappointed. There were even rumors that the House might defund the OVP.
Senate President Chiz Escudero previously said that the Congress can really defund an office but in the recent years, it has not happened. The House decided to give VP Sara Duterte’s office a P733 million budget for 2025.
Furthermore, the House recently said that the P1.3 billion budget cut from the proposal of the OVP for 2025 will be re-allocated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).
Recently, a House panel affirmed that it might recommend filing a case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte over the spending of the DepEd’s Confidential Funds during her term. It was in June of this year when Duterte left the helm of the education department.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability may suggest filing charges against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte if she fails to account the P112.5 million in Confidential Fund expenses. The House panel said the charges may include plunder.
According to House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., the House Panel may consider the move if Vice Pres. Sara Duterte “fails to account for P112.5 million in confidential funds which were encashed as cash advances”. He stressed that it is their job to protect the public interest.
“Kung ang Bise Presidente, bilang pinuno ng DepEd noong panahong iyon, ay hindi makapagbigay ng malinaw at sapat na paliwanag kung paano ginamit ang perang ito, tungkulin namin na ituloy ang kinakailangang mga legal na hakbang,” Gonzales said.
Based on the report, Pampanga 3rd District Representative also stressed that the Confidential Funds were money of the people. According to him, it must clear how it was used.
“Pera ito ng taumbayan, at kailangan nating tiyakin na ito ay nagamit ng tama,” the House Senior Deputy Speaker said.
Previously, amid the controversies surrounding the 2025 budget proposal of her office, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte stressed that the OVP is ready to work even without a budget.