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MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said that now is not the time for politicking.
After the House of Representatives stripped of her proposed confidential funds, the Vice President told her supporters that she understood their frustrations.
“Naiintindihan ko ang inyong pagkadismaya at galit hinggil sa mga isyu tulad ng pakikialam sa budget at usapin ng confidential fund,” Duterte said in a statement on Facebook.
(I understand your dismay and anger about issues like meddling in the budget and discussion about the confidential fund.)
Duterte said that budgetary issues appear minor when compared to the Ukraine-Russia war and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. She then urged to focus on more important matters.
“Hinihikayat ko ang bawat isa sa inyo na tutukan ang paghahanda sa darating na panahon ng taghirap lalo na sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin. May oras para sa lahat at hindi ito ang panahon ng paninira at pamumulitika lalo na malayo pa ang susunod na eleksyon,”
(I encourage everyone to pay attention and prepare for trying times, especially with continuous price hikes of food and other products. There is a time for everything, and this is not the time for smearing and politicking since election season is still far.)
Duterte did not specify if she was referring to the next national elections or the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.
In October, the House of Representatives denied the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) proposal for confidential funds.
The OVP sought P500 million in confidential funds, while the DepEd requested P150 million.