ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte (FILE) Photos from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should “get her facts straight” and not rely on “marites” (Filipino slang for gossiper) sources, according to ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, as she refuted claims that the Makabayan bloc held meetings with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to discuss an impeachment move against the country’s second highest official.
Earlier Wednesday, Duterte released a video message, saying that Castro herself, reportedly revealed talks about the former’s impeachment in November last year. The Vice President added that Castro is “at the center” of this discussion.
“Unang-una walang katotohanan na kami sa Makabayan bloc ay nakipagpulong kay House Speaker Romualdez para sa impeachment ni VP Duterte,” the lawmaker said reiterating a previous statement from the Makabayan bloc.
(First of all, it is untrue that we in the Makabayan bloc met with House Speaker Romualdez for the impeachment of VP Duterte.)
READ: Castro on Marcos’ defense of VP Duterte: Impeachment part of democracy
“Pangalawa, walang pahayag ang Makabayan bloc noong Setyembre 2023 na nagtutulak kami ng impeachment; sa katunayan may pahayag pa nga kami noong Agosto at Nobyembre 2023, na nagsasabi na premature ang usapin sa impeachment,” she added.
(Second, the Makabayan bloc had no statement in September 2023 that we were pushing for impeachment; we even had a statement in August and November 2023, saying that the impeachment matter was premature.)
Instead, Castro said they should focus on pressing matters such as the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P125 million confidential fund in 2022, citing a statement she issued in August last year.
“VP Duterte should get her facts straight at hindi puro marites ang source,” she said.
She likewise emphasized that the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) had no allocation for confidential expenses for the OVP and that Duterte did not request it in the budget proposal at that time.
A Commission on Audit (COA) report in 2022, revealed that the office had an additional allotment of P125 million for confidential expenses during the second semester of the same year.
However, Castro pointed out that the OVP had no such allocation in the 2022 GA, adding that its transfer was illegal.
In September 2024 Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo confirmed that the confidential fund (CF) was spent in 11 days during the plenary debates on COA’s proposed budget for last year.
“We ask that the OVP provide a detailed public accounting of how the Php 125 million was spent. We hoped that Vice President Sara Duterte would use the OVP budget hearing to personally clarify her position on this sensitive issue, but she just used squid tactics to avoid answering and even boycotted the hearing yesterday” Castro said.
‘Impeachment logical consequence of CF’s misuse’
The lawmaker also reiterated the Makabayan bloc’s stance against OVP’s use of confidential funds and that its removal from the office’s budget last year is “legitimate and necessary.”
She added that “the possibility of impeachment remains a logical consequence of the evident misuse of confidential funds.”
“We reiterate that no legal framework permits such rapid expenditure without breaching established fiscal protocols,” Castro said.
On Duterte’s pronouncements that her office could function without a budget or with budget limitations, Castro said that the vice president is deflecting from the core issue, which she said is “adherence to legal and ethical standards in public office.”
“The Makabayan bloc has been consistent in defending the proper allocation of the national budget, ensuring that funds are used to serve the interests of the Filipino people rather than personal or political gain,” the lawmaker said.
“We are committed to holding public officials accountable and to work for the abolition of all confidential funds. We will continue to explore all legal avenues, including impeachment, to address any abuse of power and resources,” she further said.
“We urge our fellow legislators and the public to remain vigilant and demand transparency in government transactions. It is our collective duty to uphold the integrity of our institutions and to
ensure that public funds are used judiciously and responsibly,” she concluded.
In a video message, Duterte also claimed that the issues surrounding her office’s use of CFs are part of an orchestrated attack against her.