TIMING IS EVERYTHING: INDAY SARA SHOOTS BACK, DEFENDS P650-M CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS

By Junex Doronio

WITHOUT NAMING NAMES, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday shot back at those who are opposing the P650-million confidential funds for her offices, saying they are “naturally assumed to have insidious motivations.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros has assailed the proposed P500 million worth of confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President and the P150 million confidential funds for the Department of Education (DepEd), which Duterte heads as Secretary, for fiscal year 2024.

“Anyone who attacks or undermines funds allocated for peace and order is naturally assumed to have insidious motivations. Such actions go against the protection and well-being of the citizenry. Those who seek to compromise the security and development of our nation jeopardize the very fabric of our society and hinder our progress,” the feisty second-highest official of the land boomed during the 122nd police service anniversary celebration of the Police Regional Office 13 in Butuan City.

She stressed the role of confidential funds in maintaining security by providing agencies with the necessary resources to address certain challenges.

“Tandaan ninyo—kung sino man ang kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan. Kung sino ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan,” VP Duterte warned.

Earlier, Hontiveros asked Duterte to explain how the OVP used up its P125 million in confidential funds (CF) in just 11 days.

“Anong uri na naman ng magic ang ginamit nila para ubusin ang P125 million sa loob ng 11 araw? Hindi na lang ‘yan spending spree. ‘Yan ay paglapastangan sa mamamayan. Napakagaspang. P11 million kada araw? Daig pa ang may patagong credit card sa national budget. Hindi niyo pera yan!” Hontiveros blurted out.

In the latest survey of Pulse Asia, Duterte’s approval rating notably dropped from 84 percent in June to 73 percent in the September survey.

Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that the issue of confidential funds may have affected “Inday Sara’s popularity.”

(ai/mnm)