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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider P125-M confidential funds transfer to OVP caused 'real damage', Castro reminds Pinoys 

P125-M confidential funds transfer to OVP caused 'real damage', Castro reminds Pinoys 

Published May 29, 2024 05:21 am

At A Glance

  • ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro reminded the public on Wednesday, May 29 that the controversial allocation of P125 million worth of confidential funds to Vice President Sara Duterte's office "caused real damage". 

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ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (left), and Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB, Facebook)



ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro reminded the public on Wednesday, May 29 that the controversial allocation of P125 million worth of confidential funds to Vice President Sara Duterte's office "caused real damage".

In a statement, Castro said the case was "not just theoretical but has caused millions of pesos that should have been allotted to Filipinos who are in need".

"This illegal and unconstitutional transfer of P125 million to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for confidential funds violated all rules on the proper use of such funds," said the House deputy minority leader.

"It represents a massive redirection of public resources away from essential services and towards opaque purposes with no accountability. It is a glaring example of bureaucrat capitalism and should be stopped," stressed the Makabayan solon.

Castro was referring to the petitions filed at the Supreme Court (SC) by herself and other members of the Makabayan bloc questioning the constitutionality of the confidential funds given to Duterte's office in late 2022.

A big part of the controversy was the funds' apparent depletion within just 11 days, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

"The petitioners...seeking the restitution of these P125 million in public funds that were unlawfully used with no oversight...We have asked the [SC] to direct COA to fully audit how this money was spent," the teacher-solon said.

Castro underscored that the 2022 national budget did not allocate any confidential funds for civilian agencies like the OVP.

"There was no congressional authorization for the OVP to receive and spend P125 million in confidential funds, in clear violation of our laws," she said.

"This case goes beyond just theoretical arguments about budget rules. Real public money that could have helped struggling Filipinos was instead funneled into a legal gray area with zero transparency. The people deserve to know where their money went," Castro concluded.

The confidential funds issue was a major sticking point for the Makabayan bloc during the House discussions on the 2024 national budget last year.

Related Tags

Office of the Vice President Confidential funds Sara Duterte FRANCE CASTRO
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