Representative Gerville Luistro of Batangas stated on Sunday that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) allegedly made an effort to stop the Commission on Audit (CoA) from submitting an audit report on its use of confidential funds to the House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee.
In Luistro’s statement, she claimed that the OVP was engaged in “suppression of public information.”
During her appearance before the appropriations panel last week, Vice President Sara Duterte engaged in heated arguments with committee members while consistently refusing to provide specifics regarding the use of her office’s confidential fund.
On August 21, OVP Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez sent a letter to CoA, cautioning against complying with the committee’s subpoena duces tecum for the Notice of Disallowance and audits of the OVP’s and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) confidential funds for 2022 and 2023, according to Luistro. The OVP argued that due to the nature of confidential funds, the subpoena might not be enforceable.
Before her resignation in July, Duterte served as the education secretary.
Luistro emphasized that Congress is not only entitled but also constitutionally obligated to oversee the use of public funds. “It is our duty to ensure that every peso of taxpayers’ money is spent appropriately and not misused,” she added.
She further noted that constant review and oversight of public funds is necessary, particularly for sensitive allocations like confidential funding. This scrutiny goes beyond the mere adoption of the budget.
“Confidential funds are allocated for specific purposes that require a high level of discretion. However, this does not exempt them from oversight. The public deserves to know if these funds are used correctly, and it is Congress’s role to ensure this through audits and investigations,” remarked Luistro.
Luistro continued by stating that Congress must closely examine the budgets of all government departments. “This scrutiny is not just about legality; it is about ensuring that the people’s money is spent in ways that truly benefit the public. When an official attempts to conceal spending details, it undermines public trust,” she said.
She contended that the need for transparency and accountability must take priority over the principle of separation of powers when it comes to public funds. This principle ensures that no branch of government operates without checks and balances.
Attempts to obtain a response from Vice President Duterte or her office regarding Luistro’s allegations were unsuccessful.
During CoA’s budget briefing on August 13, the appropriations panel subpoenaed the agency to provide updates on how the OVP used its confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, in a radio interview on Sunday, encouraged Congress to use its “power of the purse” to reallocate the OVP’s budget. He voiced concerns about the OVP’s duplication of government programs and recommended that, rather than maintaining a separate budget for social assistance, the OVP should rely on agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide support when needed.
“This is what the Constitution requires, and this should be our priority,” Pimentel stated, emphasizing that the vice president is not supposed to distribute books, oversee bus routes, or provide school supplies.
Pimentel also urged Congress to take seriously the Vice President’s repeated statements that Congress would have the final say on the OVP’s proposed P2 billion budget for 2025.
“And she has repeated this several times, which indicates she is serious about it. She also made the same statement in the Senate,” Pimentel continued.
He concluded by pressing Congress to demonstrate its authority not only by appearing tough during hearings but by ensuring that the budget aligns with the Vice President’s constitutional responsibilities.
