OVP gives up pursuit of having confidential funds ‘to avoid division’

Vice President Sara Duterte FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has relinquished its pursuit of having confidential funds to avoid further division, according to Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday.

Sen. Sonny Angara had earlier read the said message during a Senate hearing, but the message was only released directly to the media this afternoon.

“We will no longer pursue the Confidential Funds. Why? Because this issue is divisive, and as the Vice President, I swore an oath to keep the country peaceful and strong,” Duterte said in a statement.

READ: House gives zero confidential funds to OVP, DepEd, DICT, DFA, DA

Duterte said she could only propose a budget to implement her agency’s programs.

“The Office of the Vice President can only propose a budget to support the safe implementation of our programs, activities, and projects to alleviate poverty and promote the general welfare of every Filipino family,” she said.

READ: Dutertes’ anger at secret fund scrutiny, queries opens crack in ‘UniTeam’

The OVP’s confidential funds had garnered widespread criticism. The House of Representatives had even stripped both the OVP and the Department of Education of their proposed confidential fund.