A PARTY-list lawmaker claimed that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is the most wasteful and inefficient aid-giving agency because of her Confidential Funds (CF), where around P1.3 million is allegedly spent per day on her security.
House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro also reacted strongly to the answers of Vice President Sara Duterte during the House Appropriations Committee hearing on the proposed P2.3-billion budget of the OVP.
“As VP Duterte said at the Senate, her confidential fund is spent for ‘the safe, secure and successful implementations of programs, activities and projects [PAPs] and engagements of the Office of the Vice President’. Meaning, for every PAP, every move she makes as VP, she spends massive resources for her personal security just to do them,” said the teacher solon.
Rep. Castro noted that the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) was activated by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the Vice President and her family.”
“If we are to divide the P500 million confidential funds per day of the year 2024, then it appears that the OVP will spend P1,369,863.01 per day just to secure VP Duterte and her family. She also had that much money in 2023,” Castro said.
“Lumalabas na napakamaaksayang opisina ng OVP. Napakagastos kung yung ‘delivery of services’ sa pakahulugan ng kasalukuyang VP ay may kakabit na napakaluhong price tag para sa security niya. Mabuti pa kung sa DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) na lang ibigay ang P500 million para may pang ayuda sa mga mahihirap,” she adds.
She said that VP Duterte, through the OVP and VPSPSG, conduct their own intelligence gathering and that they do not seek intelligence reports from other government agencies.
“But is this part of the mandate of the OVP? It seems that the VPSPG has become somewhat of her private army. During her father’s time as president his vice -president was at odds with his policy but did not form as a VPSPG but now VP Duterte is allied with Pres. Marcos Jr., why is there a need for a VPSPG? Does she not trust her running mate or is she planning something before the 2028 elections?,” asked Rep. Castro.
She emphasized that these were the types of questions that VP Duterte avoided during the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations hearing, and hopes that in the plenary, even through a sponsor she can answer their questions.
Castro recommended that it would be better if the P500 million for the OVP confidential fund be directly given as aid or “ayuda” or realigned to other programs that will directly benefit the people. She said it can even be realigned for the use of the Philippine Coast Guard against China’s incursions or the development of Pagasa island.
“Congress should do this since it came from VP Duterte herself that ‘We are not insisting. We can live without confidential funds,” said the teacher solon.
“VP Duterte herself has admitted that the confidential fund is not essential to the functions of her office. Therefore, at a time when the people are reeling from inflation and the Finance secretary is pushing for the defunding of free higher education, her P500 million is an extravagance that Filipino taxpayers can ill- afford to sustain,” ended Rep. Castro.