Quezon City 3rd district Rep. Franz Pumaren (Facebook)

House Deputy Majority Leader Quezon City 3rd district Rep. Franz Pumaren told former president Rodrigo Duterte Monday, Oct. 16 that the decision to realign Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential funds was "nothing personal". 

“The decision to realign the vice president’s confidential funds is nothing personal, as several other agencies also faced the same redistribution," Pumaren said in a statement. 

"If the former president thinks this is wrong, our doors are always open in the House of Representatives for dialogues,” he said. 

The House of Representatives recently decided to divert some P1.23 billion in confidential funds from several government agencies under the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2024 in efforts to boost security in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

Among the agencies that were stripped of confidential funds were the Office of the Vice President (P500 million) and the Department of Education (P150 million). Both agencies are under Vice President Duterte. 

The realignment of confidential funds was done by a "small committee" in the House composed of Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, appropriations panel Senior Vice Chairperson Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo, Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe, and Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan. 

Nine other agencies or departments had their confidential funds either totally taken away or reduced by this small committee. 

The confidential funds were realigned to these government agencies: National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (P300 million); National Security Council (P100 million); Philippine Coast Guard (P200 million); Department of Transportation (P351 million); DepEd's Government Assistance to Students and Teachers (P150 million); DICT's Cybercrime Prevention, Investigation and Coordination Program (P25 million); Department of Foreign Affairs operations (P30 million); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' MOOE (P30 million); and Office of the Ombudsman's MOOE (P50.4 million). 

The removal of Vice President Duterte's confidential funds didn't sit well with the elder Duterte. Last week, the latter hurled tirades against Congress and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

The former chief executive went as far to say that Congress needs to undergo audit in order for the public to find out how solons are using taxpayers' money.