House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for boasting about not requesting confidential funds for 2025, calling it an “empty gesture” that fails to address lingering issues of accountability.
“Why should she request for confidential funds when her office is not mandated to have such funds? Besides, she is just afraid that Congress will again take it away along with other civilian agencies that are not mandated for confidential funds,” said the teacher solon.
Rep. Castro emphasized that VP Duterte still has unresolved issues regarding her previous use of confidential funds. “Also up till now she has not satisfactorily explained the P125 million confidential funds she illegally acquired and spent in 11 days in 2022. She also has to account how she spent her confidential funds in 2023,” said the Deputy Minority leader.
The legislator warned that VP Duterte’s recent announcement does not absolve her of responsibility for past actions. “Kaya huwag nyang ipagmalaki na hindi sya nagrequest ng confidential funds sa susunod na budget, she is not off the hook yet,” ended Rep. Castro.
Rep. Castro called for a thorough investigation into the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and other civilian agencies, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in government spending.
