DAVAO CITY – Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte defended the Office of the Vice President following allegations by a businessman over the supposed misuse of confidential and intelligence funds.

Makati Business Club Executive Director Apa Ongpin has accused Vice President Sara Duterte of misusing confidential funds and remarked that money allocated for national security should not be spent on one “Mary Jane Piattos.”

In a statement on Monday evening, Oct. 20, Rep. Duterte criticized Ongpin for his remarks and said he lacked understanding of how governance and public fund management work.

“Before you start barking, maybe try running a city first, so you’d actually understand what governance means, Sir,” Rep. Duterte said.

The Davao City lawmaker explained that confidential and intelligence funds are “legally appropriated and audited under existing national guidelines,” referring to Joint Circular No. 2015-01 issued by the Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, and Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG).

“These funds are used strictly for information-gathering, security coordination, surveillance, and confidential operations,” he said, emphasizing that all disbursements undergo documentation, liquidation, and post-audit by the COA.

Rep. Duterte linked criticisms of Vice President Duterte to her efforts as then concurrent secretary of the Department of Education to address recruitment activities by communist groups and strengthen the education sector.

“Why do you think leftist groups hate the Vice President? Because of the efforts of the Vice President as DepEd secretary to end recruitments by the New People's Army from the grassroots level and to strengthen the education sector,” the congressman added.

Rep. Duterte questioned why similar scrutiny was not directed towards other government offices that receive confidential funds, such as the Office of the President, DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Investigation.

“You think only the OVP gets confidential funds? How about the Office of the President, the DILG, the AFP, the PNP, the NBI — all of which have far bigger allocations?” he said.

Rep. Duterte encouraged Ongpin to “learn how government actually works” before making accusations. “Try holding public office, managing crises, leading people — then maybe you will earn the right to lecture others about accountability."