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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Quimbo's stance on confidential funds, Maharlika fund didn't sit well with fellow LP members--Lagman

Quimbo's stance on confidential funds, Maharlika fund didn't sit well with fellow LP members--Lagman

Published Oct 7, 2023 10:26 am

At A Glance

  • Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo's stance on controversial topics like Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential fund allocation as well as the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) wasn't appreciated by her fellow Liberal Party (LP) members.

20231007_175436.jpgMarikina City 2nd Rep. Stella Quimbo (left), Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman (PPAB, Facebook)

Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo's stance on controversial topics like Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential fund allocation as well as the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) wasn't appreciated by her fellow Liberal Party (LP) members.

This was bared in a statement Saturday afternoon, Oct. 7 by the LP's management committee (ManCom), and released to House reporters by LP President Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman.

"The defense of Rep. Stella Quimbo of the confidential funds, particularly of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, and the Maharlika Investment Fund, contrary to the collective position of the leadership and ranking members of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, has resulted in some clamor to sanction Rep. Quimbo as a Party member," the statement read.

"Although it has to be noted that she has later conceded that the utilization and audit of secret funds must be made more transparent and officials made more accountable," it added.

Quimbo, one of the respected veterans in the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress, is the senior vice chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations.

Her critical insights have made her a go-to person of sorts by the House leadership on anything that concerns fiscal matters and the economy in general.

Quimbo's role in the appropriations panel placed her in the spotlight during the recent budget process in the House, when confidential and intelligence funds became a major talking point.

"Rep. Stella Quimbo is still a member of the Liberal Party," the ManCom statement read. The LP is an opposition party.

"No sanction will be imposed," Lagman later clarified.


It can be recalled that the passage of the MIF--the Philippines' first sovereign wealth fund--was aggressively pushed by administration congressmen late last year.

"The enduring tradition of the Liberal Party is to allow its members to take independent views on national issues in recognition of a member’s freedom of expression and dissent," the statement further indicated.

The decision to keep Quimbo in LP "was unanimously reached by the ManCom of the Party, together with some district representatives, and Rep. Edcel Lagman, as president of the Party, was authorized to issue this statement".

Quimbo belongs to the majority bloc in the 300-plus strong House. The dominant party in the majority is the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Lagman isn't part of the traditional minority bloc in the lower chamber; instead, he is a self-styled independent minority solon.

Related Tags

Maharlika Investment fund Edcel Lagman Confidential funds Liberal Party stella quimbo
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