Progressive group Akbayan, on Friday, Nov. 10, hailed the power of public scrutiny after Vice President Sara Duterte decided not to pursue her request for P500 million worth of confidential funds under the proposed 2024 budget.
The group released a statement after the Office of the Vice President (OVP) announced it would no longer pursue its request for P500 million worth of confidential funds.
The group highlighted that Vice President Duterte's "espionage-style financial maneuvers didn't survive the spotlight of transparency and accountability."
"This underscores the power of public scrutiny over the likes of Vice President Duterte and her minions," it said.
"This is what we can do when we all come together," the group added.
Akbayan also urged everyone to remain vigilant and protect this victory until the conclusion of the 2024 budget process.
"We will remain steadfast in our mission to illuminate the corridors of power against dark forces that want to hold this nation's future hostage by keeping it in a corrupt past," it added.
Lastly, the group hoped that Duterte would learn her lesson from this experience and remember that governance is "best navigated with transparency, not by evasion, tantrums, and impunity."