WATCH: VP and DepEd Secretary Duterte welcomes 'opportunity' to discuss legality of fund transfers
Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte welcomed the move to discuss the legality of transferring funds on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
“Malugod po naming tinatanggap ang pagkakataong talakayin ang legalidad ng paglilipat ng pondo (We warmly welcome the opportunity to discuss the legality of fund transfer),” Duterte said in a video message sent by DepEd.
“Umaasa kami na ang dunong ng Korte Suprema ay magiging daan para tuluyang matapos ang usapin na ito (We hope that the wisdom of the Supreme Court will pave the way to finally resolve this matter),” she added.
DepEd sent Duterte’s video message after a group of economic and legal experts filed a petition on Tuesday before the Supreme Court (SC) to challenge the constitutionality of Duterte's confidential funds.
The group of experts questioned the "constitutionality" of Duterte's P125 million in confidential funds that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) received last year.
Focus on other matters
Following the move, Duterte said that the focus should be directed toward other matters that affect students, teachers, and the overall status of education in the country.
“Ngayon naman ay tutukan natin ang mahirap na tungkulin sa pagpapataas ng antas ng kalidad ng edukasyon sa ating bansa at pagprotekta sa ating mga mag-aaral at mga kawani ng Department of Education mula sa lahat ng uri ng banta at pang-aabuso (Now, let us focus on the challenging task of raising the quality of education in our country and protecting our students and Department of Education personnel from all kinds of threats and abuses),” she said.
Duterte also underscored the urgent need to focus on matters that affect both directly and indirectly the individuals served by DepEd.
“Napakahalaga na pagtuunan din natin ng pansin ang pagtugon sa mga mahahalagang issue ukol sa mga presyo ng bilihin na nakakapapekto sa ating mga mag-aaral at kanilang mga pamilya (It is crucial that we also pay attention to addressing important issues regarding the cost of living that affect our students and their families),” she added.