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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Risa to VP Sara: 'I thought OVP can live without confi, intel funds?'

Risa to VP Sara: 'I thought OVP can live without confi, intel funds?'

Published Sep 11, 2023 07:13 am

Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, September 11 shot back at Vice President Sara Duterte for bragging that critics were unable to support their “dirty imagination” when they questioned the confidential expenses in 2022 of the Office of the Vice President which was not provided under last year’s General Appropriations Act (GAA).

VP Sara Duterte.jpg

Vice President Sara Duterte defends her office's proposed budget, as well as the Department of Education's (DepEd), during the Senate's hearing on the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024. (Senate PRIB Photo)

“Trabaho lang, walang drama (We just work, no drama),” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Akala ko ba, VP Sara, the OVP can live without confidential funds? Bakit parang pinapawisan na yata kayo dyan, budget hearing pa lang? Lahat naman ng ahensya naglalabas ng proposed budget (VP Sara, I thought the OVP can live without confidential funds? Then why do you seem to be sweating out, when it’s just a budget hearing? All agencies are releasing their proposed budget),” the deputy minority leader added.

“Hindi kayo special (You are not special),” she further said.

“If you’re so confident about those confidential funds, then defend them publicly,” the senator added.

Hontiveros further criticized the OVP for finding its own job of defending their budget from critics as “amusing.”

“Napakababa na yata ng standards ngayon sa OVP. Gagawin mo lang ang trabaho mo, ‘amusing’ na agad? Kung meron mang ‘amusing,’ yan ay yung halos kalahating oras na turo-turo, pag-iwas sa tanong, paikot-ikot na sagot, at pagbabalu-baluktot ng sitwasyon. Ginawa nilang perya ang basic na proseso ng pagbusisi ng pera ng bayan (I think the standards are very low now in OVP. You just do your job, ‘amusing’ right away? If there's anything ‘amusing,’ it's the almost half hour of teaching, avoiding questions, twisting answers, and distorting the situation. They turned the basic process of checking the people's money into a fair),” she pointed out.

She also pointed out two former Senate presidents—former senator Franklin Drilon and Senate minority leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III—have already said that the transfer of funds from the Office of the President to the OVP is illegal and unconstitutional.

“Thus, I don’t have to make a wish to have an access into your office’s illegal and confidential funds,” she pointed out.

But more importantly, Hontiveros said Duterte should respond to the questions regarding the confidential funds asked by the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd), where she is concurrent secretary.

The senator insisted that Duterte should not be evasive when asked about the proposed confidential funds of her office and the DepEd for 2024, which is bigger than the combined confidential funds of the Department of National Defense and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

“Bakit ba kailangan niya ng napakalaking pondo na walang audit o disclosure sa publiko (Why does she need a huge fund that are not even subject to audit or public disclosure)?” Hontiveros pointed out.

“Given the significant responsibility of government officials, I demand a shred of competence when it comes to fiscal matters— like any Filipino taxpayer,” she reiterated.

“Kaysa sa mga personal na atake at pag-iwas sa tanong, mas maganda sigurong kung linawin na lang si VP Sara ang pondo ng opisina niya para sa isang national budget na mas transparent, mas epektibo, at mas tutugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan (Rather than personal attacks and avoiding the question, it would be better if VP Sara just clarified the funds of her office for a national budget that is more transparent, more effective, and more responsive to the needs of our countrymen),” Hontiveros emphasized.

For 2024, the OVP is asking for a P500-million confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), the same amount which was granted to them under the 2023 GAA.

RELATED STORY:

VP Duterte blasts 'dirty imagination' of her confidential fund critics

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/11/vp-duterte-blasts-dirty-imagination-of-her-confidential-funds-critics

Related Tags

Office of the Vice President Risa Hontiveros confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) Confidential funds VP Sara Duterte
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