Turn off the console’s microphone to interrupt the review of VP’s secret funds
MANILA, Philippines — The House Appropriations Committee blocked an attempt by opposition lawmakers to question the Office of the Vice President (OVP) about how it spent 125 million pesos from its secret fund in 2022 when The committee quickly wrapped up Wednesday’s budget briefing.respect the vice president Sara Duterte
Representative of Ilocos Norte Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.and President Martin Romualdez’s grandson, invoked the “long tradition of extending congressional courtesy to the VP” when calling for an end to the hearing, preventing the Makabayan bloc from confronting Duterte over costs.secret ÖVP target.
Duterte was on hand to lead the agency’s presentation of the proposed 2.
4 billion pesos budget for 2024, including 500 million pesos in a secret fund or one-time payments for surveillance activities.agency and it is not subject to regular state audits.
The competition education minister then attended a budget hearing for the Department of Education (DepEd), which is seeking an additional 150 million pesos from the secret fund for next year.
The ÖVP budget hearing lasted only 22 minutes, of which 10 minutes were devoted to a video presentation of the agency’s achievements and plans for 2024.
After the presentation, Marcos, the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, recommended an end to budget discussions in the face of objections from ACT teachers representative France Castro and representatives of Kabataan.Raoul-Daniel-Manuel.
Davao de Oro Representative Maria Carmen Zamora, vice president of the council, called for a show of hands and announced the hearing was over after the 21 members voted to close.
Turn off the microphone
Castro tried to persuade the organization to continue the hearing because he wanted to ask Duterte to explain about ÖVP’s use of secret funds.
“This 125 million pesos needs to be explained and the vice president, in an earlier statement, said she would explain herself.
So I have every right to explain why I voted no and people need to know how ÖVP spent this secret fund,” she said.
At this point, Castro cannot continue because his microphone is off.In the past, the Makabayan bloc has criticized the OVP for its secret expenditures, citing a provision of the 1987 Constitution that states that “no amount of money may be withdrawn from the Treasury except as provided for by law.
The block cited the Special Allocation Release Order (Saro) from the Ministry of Budget and Management issued on December 13, 2022, including 125 million pesos for secret funds with the approval of the Office of the President ( OP).
Saro is the authority granted to an agency to fulfill obligations for a limited amount and for a specified period of time and also includes laws that allow the issuance of funds for a specific purpose.After the hearing, the Makabayan deputies criticized the abrupt halt to the proceedings.
Castro says:
“I am angry at this development, as we are ready to ask questions, but we believe that ÖVP is not ready to explain to people how they spend their money.
This is not kept secret.
»She said the House committee members were too “soft” on Duterte.Manually added:
“I thought the Vice President had the guts to answer questions about the secret fund for 2022?
She was present but didn’t even answer our questions.Former ÖVP spokesman and attorney Barry Gutierrez, who worked under his predecessor Leni Robredo, said the hearing was a “missed opportunity” for lawmakers to question both the importance importance of the general budget and the purpose of secret funds.
“Perhaps this was the only time they could ask the agency directly about these issues, but they didn’t,” Gutierrez said.
“If the National Assembly itself is not authorized to perform its function, who can?He acknowledged that Congress usually wraps up hearings on PO and OVP budgets as a courtesy, but “that was only possible before that because the previous offices weren’t bogged down in controversies.
” Similar.”“Really disappointing,” Gutierrez said.
“Goal, Necessity”
However, during the DepEd budget hearing, Albay’s representative Edcel Lagman had the opportunity to ask Duterte about the Education Department’s request for 150 million pesos in confidential expenses.“Given the shortage of confidential funding in DepEd and the need for adequate funding, would you voluntarily withdraw your request for confidential funding from DepEd?Lagman asked him.
Duterte replied:“There is a purpose and a need for secret funds in DepEd, because basic education is tied to national security.
»She also confirmed that DepEd “received the support” of experienced military and police officers in surveillance and security operations.”Yes, our field operations continuously discuss with the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines about security issues between learners and instructional and non-teaching staff.
our teaching, as well as in our schools,” she said.
However, Duterte added that she will rely on the wisdom of Congress to decide whether to accept the minister’s request.
