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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Let SC decide on P125M fund issue --- VP Duterte

Let SC decide on P125M fund issue --- VP Duterte

Published Nov 7, 2023 10:10 am

Vice President Sara Duterte welcomed the petition filed by legal and economic experts asking the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional the P125-million confidential funds transferred to her office in December 2022.

Inday Sara_Pasidungog2.jpgVice President Sara Duterte (OVP photo)

In a video message on Tuesday, Nov. 7, the official commented on the petition, which also asked the High Court to order the return of the funds to the country’s treasury.

“Malugod po naming tinatanggap ang pagkakataong talakayin ang legalidad ng paglilipat ng pondo. Umaasa kami na ang dunong ng Korte Suprema ay magiging daan upang tuluyang matapos ang usapin na ito (We welcome the chance to discuss the legality of the fund transfer. We hope that the wisdom of the Supreme Court will put an end to this issue),” she said.

The petition, which was filed by economist and former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno and former vice presidential spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, among others, cited the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Office of the Executive Secretary as its respondents.

The petition for certiorari, or one that assails the grave abuse of discretion by a government agency or official, questioned the constitutionality of the fund transfer made by the DBM upon the approval of the Office of the President (OP).

“It is most respectfully prayed that this Honorable Court declare the transfer of the amount of P125 million to the Office of the Vice President as unconstitutional and that the Office of the Vice President be ordered to return the money to the government’s treasury,” the petition read.

Aside from Magno and Gutierrez, other petitioners were constitution framer and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Christian Monsod and former Comelec commissioner Gus Lagman.

The issue originated from a request by the OVP for confidential funds after Duterte took over the office.

This was approved by the OP, transferred by the DBM, and spent by the OVP in just 11 days.

The public backlash, as well as apparent tensions within the UniTeam political coalition that supported the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the 2022 national elections, led the House of Representatives' action ultimately scrapping the combined P650-million—for the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd)—in confidential funds that Duterte proposed for 2024.

Duterte, in her video statement, hoped that the resolution of the petition will lead to improving the quality of education in the country and the protection of students and DepEd personnel against any form of abuse and threat.

The Vice President is also the education chief in a concurrent capacity.

“Napakahalagang pagtuunan rin natin ng pansin ang pag-tugon sa mga mahahalagang isyu ukol sa presyo ng mga bilihin na nakakaapekto sa ating mga mag-aaral at kanilang mga pamilya (It is also very important to focus on addressing the important issues about the prices of goods that affect our students and their families),” she said.

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OVP Confidential funds VP Sara Duterte DepEd unconstitutional
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