Senator Imelda “Imee” Marcos on Sunday, October 15 questioned the criticisms being hurled at Vice President Sara Duterte regarding the confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) request of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for 2024.

The sister of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said there is obviously some resentment when the House appropriations committee removed the P1.23-billion of CIF for the OVP under the proposed 2024 national budget.

“Well, sinabi ko na noon pa may halong galit. Parang hindi ko maintindihan kung sino ang nagmamadali ( As I’ve said before, there was a bit of resentment. I can’t understand why they are in a rush),” Marcos said in an interview on Radio DZBB.

“Ang layo-layo pa ng 2028, bakit binubugbog na ang frontrunner, ika nga, (as they said, the 2028 elections is still far off, why are they beating the frontrunner)?” she further pointed out.

Asked if she believes politics was the reason behind the granting of a “zero” funding for the OVP’s confidential funds, Marcos said she is inclined to believe so.

“Di naman lahat siguro, hindi naman totally politika, pero yung tono kung minsan sobra galit, sobra personal, eh nakakaduda (Maybe not all, not all was about politics. But the tone used by some had so much anger, it was so personal, it’s suspicious),” she said.

“Kasi kung talaga intel funds lang tanggalin, tapos. Pero marami pang salita, marami pa banta. Nahahaluan ng kung ano-ano eh (Because if it was just about intelligence funds removal, it should end. But they have been saying other things, there were threats. They have raised other issues),” she added.

Nonetheless, Marcos said she still believes that the Office of the President and the OVP still deserve a confidential and intelligence fund appropriation.

“I also agree that they also need the CIF, especially the OP, because there are really some secret projects that should not be divulged,” she said.

“Sa palagay ko po, maliwanag naman si VP ano, kung tatanggalin wala naman ang kapangyarihan sa kanya, tatanggapin niya kung ano ‘yung hatol ng lehislatura (I think, the VP has been clear, if they will remove it, it’s not in her power. She will accept the decision of the legislature),” Marcos pointed out.

“Kung ‘yun ang sasabihin ng budget committee, ng Kongreso at Senado, eh wala siyang magagawa, hahanapin na lang ‘yung pera sa ibang lugar (If that is what the budget committee of both the House and the Senate will decide on, she can’t do anything. They will just look for other sources of money),” she said.

Earlier, the House Committee on Appropriations chairperson and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said they removed the P1.23-billion confidential funds from the OVP and the DepEd, both of which are under the control of the vice president.

Lawmakers are keen on realigning the funds to agencies such tasked to secure and protect the country’s territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; National Security Council; Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the development and expansion of Pag-asa Island Airport.