By Junex Doronio
DESPITE THE ANNOUNCEMENT of Vice President Sara Duterte that she would no longer pursue the P650-million total of confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for next year, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has warned that the bicameral conference committee might still restore it.
“Yan ang hindi magandang katotohanan – sa bicam, anything goes. Theoretically speaking, the bicam has the power to introduce and restore anything,” Pimentel said. “Kaya kung interesado kayo sa issue, hanggang dulo ang pagbabantay until pagreport ng bicam.”
On Friday, November 10, Pimentel called for continued vigilance as the bicameral panel composed of senators and congressmen will meet to introduce amendments to the proposed 2024 General Appropriations Act after it hurdles the upper chamber.
The two “houses” of Congress will then have to adopt the bicam committee report before it is sent to Malacañang for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature to become a law.
Pimentel expressed hope that Duterte’s allies in Congress will no longer push for the reinstatement of her confidential funds.
“Sinabi na sa harap namin na ‘Ayaw ko na yan.’ Huwag na kami mag-aksaya ng panahon magdebate na bigyan natin ang taong may ayaw. We shouldn’t waste our time anymore,” Pimentel said, referring to VP Duterte’s own statement on giving up the P650-million confidential funds.
(ai/mnm)
