ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte (FILE) Photos from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro has announced her intention to oppose the budget allocation requested for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for fiscal year 2025, especially those designated for social aid.
In a statement on Sunday, Castro said that “given the previous misuse of confidential funds, we must ensure that public funds are allocated and utilized properly.”
READ: Duterte refuses to answer OVP budget questions, sparks House tension
She added that allocating a separate budget for a department that has a “dubious track record” cannot be allowed.
In the statement, Castro mentioned the “alarming” track record of Vice President Sara Duterte in managing public funds.
She cited the recent directive of the Commission on Audit for Duterte to return P73 million in confidential funds to alleged improper use.
“The COA’s findings are clear. If the OVP cannot properly manage its P73 million confidential funds, how can we entrust them an even higher budget? This is about protecting taxpayers’ money from potential misuse,” she said.
During the recent hearing for the OVP’s budget for 2025, Castro noted that Duterte failed to provide sufficient explanation on how taxpayers’ money was spent.
“We asked, and the Vice President could not give clear answers. She consumed entirely the confidential funds, but she doesn’t want to explain how it was used,” she said.
READ: Use of confidential funds recalled, irking VP Sara Duterte
“How can we, as lawmakers, justify giving her more funds when she cannot even account for the money she has already spent? Again, this is not about “politicizing”, this is about protecting the hard-earned money of every Filipino,” Castro pointed out.
She said that the budget for social services should be channeled directly to the Department of Social Welfare and Development instead to the OVP.
Duterte tried to block COA report
In a separate statement, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said Duterte attempted but failed to prevent the COA from submitting to Congress an audit report that declared the OVP’s improper spending of confidential funds in 2022.
“The Constitutional power of Congress to review the spending of public funds is not just a right but a duty. It is our responsibility to ensure that every peso of taxpayers’ money is spent for its intended purpose and not misused,” Luistro said, as quoted in the statement.
“This scrutiny extends beyond merely approving budgets—it involves a continuous evaluation of how these funds are actually spent, particularly when it comes to sensitive allocations such as confidential funds,” she added.
She explained that the oversight function of Congress includes checking the spending patterns of agencies, and mismanagement requires questioning of the capability and integrity of those in charge.
“Confidential funds are intended for specific, sensitive purposes that require a higher degree of discretion. However, this does not mean they are exempt from oversight. The public has a right to know if these funds are being used properly, and it is the role of Congress to ensure this through audits and other investigative measures,” Luistro added.