(September 26, 2023) – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio continues to face stern criticisms from progressive groups after the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed that the P125 million confidential funds given to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) last year were spent in only 11 days.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said the swift disbursement meant that the OVP consumed an average of P11.36 million per day for confidential purposes.
Brosas, a member of the Makabayan bloc, brought up questions about the OVP’s confidential funds during the plenary deliberation on the budget of the COA. No less than Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, who has defended Duterte-Carpio on the issue, confirmed that the allocation was spent in 11 days. Brosas’ colleague, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, initially said it was spent in 19 days.
“Poor Filipinos don’t even have enough money to spend for food and other needs. Habang patindi nang patindi ang kahirapan sa bansa, tumitindi rin ang patagong paggastos ng pera ng taumbayan,” Brosas said in a statement, slamming Duterte-Carpio for still refusing “to explain how her office utilized these funds.”
A joint government circular showed that two of the purposes of confidential funds are for the purchase of information on activities relevant to national security and peace and order and payment of rewards to informers.
Assuming that the OVP hired 1,250 informants, Brosas said it would need to pay them P9,090 per day or a total of P100,000 to spend the P125 million confidential funds that quickly.
“We reiterate our position that issues on food security and lack of budget for basic social services should be the focus of the government. Hindi natin kailangan ng confidential funds,” said Brosas.
Many people also took to social media to react to the revelation that the OVP spent its confidential funds in just a little over a week.
Atty. Barry Gutierrez, the former spokesperson of former Vice President Leni Robredo, reiterated that Duterte-Carpio offered no clear answers as to where her office used the allocation.
Labing isang araw. Inubos ni VP Sara ang 125 million in 11 days.
Walang malinaw na paliwanag kung saan ginastos. Walang resibong pinakita. Walang klarong sagot.
Saang mundo naging tama ito? https://t.co/rRXn7zUp4e
— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) September 25, 2023
Robredo never asked for confidential funds during her entire six-year term.
Other netizens shared similar frustrations upon hearing about the OVP’s swift spending under Duterte-Carpio.
Sara Duterte, confidential fund spent 11 days not 19 days-Lawmaker
Grabi yarn HAHAHAHAHAH pic.twitter.com/RVq1uJUvjp
— JustMe (@anjo_ereve) September 25, 2023
Ask VP Sara Duterte how to spend 125M in 11 days ????♀️?
Sorry, I just cannot hide my frustration with this news. Ang lala! ??♀️ pic.twitter.com/edtYWwpbwA
— Just (@justinmaniluh) September 25, 2023
Mayaman ang Pilipinas pero naghihirap ang sambayanang Pilipino dahil gumagastos ng P125 milyon in 11 days ang mga tulad ni Sara Duterte
— Mong Palatino (@mongster) September 25, 2023
As of writing, Duterte-Carpio has not yet released a statement on the issue. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are currently deliberating on the budget proposals of the OP and the OVP for next year. The OVP is requesting P500 million worth of confidential funds.
On Monday, sectoral organizations met with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to register their call for the realignment to basic services of around P2.95 billion from the administration’s request of P10 billion worth of confidential and intelligence funds.
(PM)
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