UNLESS Vice President Sara Duterte makes a detailed report on how she spent the P125-million confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) transferred to her office, she just might end up being impeached way before her term expires.
According to House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. France Castro, the report that was submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to the Commission on Audit (COA) doesn’t speak well of her prudent spending of funds while millions of Filipinos grapple in poverty.
Castro said that VP Sara’s spending of P125 million CIF in just 11 days without proper justification is an impeachable offense.
“Di naman pwedeng gumawa ng kalokohan tapos pababayaan na lang, dapat may accountability. Her misuse of Confidential Funds is an impeachable offense,” Castro said.
“Sa paglulustay ng confidential funds, sa panahong kulang na kulang ang pondo para sa serbisyong publiko, at sa pagtangging ipaliwanag ito sa taumbayan, malinaw na may batayan ang impeachment,” added the ACT-Teachers partylist representative, in reference to COA’s Notice of Disallowance ng Commission on Audit (COA).
COA has since ordered Duterte to return the P73 million (equivalent to 60% of the 2022 CIF) to the national coffers.
During the House Appropriations Committee deliberation on the proposed budget for the OVP, Castro took a swipe at the manner in which the Vice President used up her CIF in just 11 days.
Under the OVP’s report submitted to the state auditors, P14 million was spent for the “purchase of information,” P10 million for thew “reward,” P16 million for “rental and other incidental expenses, P35 million for “medical and food aid,” and P10 million for the “payment of incentives or traveling relative to the Confidential Information.”
Interestingly, the Notice of Disallowance covers P73.287 million. Of the disallowed spending, COA found no justification in using up the entire P10 million purportedly for the “reward.”
Others which were disallowed in the absence of signed acknowledgment and official receipts are the P34.857 million supposed payment for various goods, P24.930 million for medicines, and P3.5 million in capital outlay representing purchase of tables, chairs, desktop computers, and printers.
Castro said that neither the amount spent for the supposed “surveillance” nor the funds supposedly used to buy furniture and office equipment did not merit COA’s approval.
“The special provision on Confidential Funds in the General Appropriations Act specifically mandates compliance with that Joint Circular. VP Duterte broke the law. The COA’s findings reveal a glaring misuse of public funds,” the militant congresswoman averred.
“It’s becoming apparent that Duterte was banking on the supposed veil of secrecy around Confidential Funds to hide her unlawful use of people’s money. This is a clear betrayal of public trust,” added Castro. “We in the Makabayan bloc stand by our call that confidential funds should be abolished because these secret discretionary funds are really prone to corruption.”
“Let me just emphasize the absurdity of what the Vice President claims in her accomplishment report. She spent 125 million by holding 132 surveillance activities, where she gave out a total of 99 million in payment and rewards (in cash and in kind), presumably to informers, and spent 26 million for travel expenses and safe houses. All during the last 11 days of 2022, including the Christmas and year end holidays. This story simply does not hold up.”
Castro further claimed that VP Sara may also find it rather difficult to explain how she spent P375 corresponding to her last year’s CIF.
“In short, Duterte’s misuse of funds apparently continued into the next year and could involve a much higher amount,” she continued.
“Her stonewalling on legitimate questions from members of the House regarding her use of public funds showed utter disrespect for the basic principles of check-and-balance, transparency, and accountability of public officials entrusted with the people’s money, all of which are enshrined in the Constitution that she swore to uphold.” Castro quipped. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
