House defends confidential fund realignment

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte should not be offended by the decision of the House of Representatives to realign confidential funds of the latter, House members declared.

“It is essential to understand that this decision was made for the benefit of the nation and not as a personal affront to any individual, including VP Duterte,” leaders representing the super majority coalition, which support the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, declared.

The beneficiaries of the House’s realignment of the confidential funds from Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education include the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (P300 million), National Security Council (P100 million) and Philippine Coast Guard (P200 million).

It is still five years away from the next presidential elections, and politicking among possible contenders at this early stage is the last thing the country needs, especially in light of economic challenges brought about by global inflation, among many others, according to lawmakers.

“The last thing we need right now is for crass, divisive politics distracting us from the possible problems that could arise from this brewing crisis,” Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte said, in reference to the latest news about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

“Oil prices have begun to spike as a result of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The government needs to be prepared for the possible fallout resulting from this,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte, an ally of President Marcos, called on “perpetrators of this kind of politics at its lowest form” to back off and assist the government instead in providing solutions that will support the country’s economic renewal.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, for his part, appealed for calm and composure amid the heated national discussion about confidential funds as he urged the nation’s leaders to instead focus on the welfare of the Filipino people.

“It is always preferable and always more productive to dial up dialogue and dial down divisive rhetoric when we deliberate on the issues that concern our people. In Congress, we have been taught that it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable,” Abante said.

“Naturally, we leaders can be passionate about our advocacies and can be very resolute in our positions. But even in our most intense debates, there should always be room for comity and collegiality,” he added.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers extolled the successes of the chamber they belong to, in reaction to recent attacks from the former president.

“As one of the senior members of the House, I stand by the institution’s integrity and strict adherence to the law,” Barbers said.

“I join hands with my colleagues in support of the leadership of Speaker Romualdez and the priority legislations of President Marcos aimed toward advancing the interests of the people, uplifting their lives through measures that improve the economy, safeguarding our territory and ensuring our safety in the face of threats against our nation’s peace and independence,” he added.

Cordial

Despite the exchange of tirades, the relationsip between Duterte and the House of Representatives as an institution remains cordial, according to House secretary general Reginald Velasco.

There is “no personal problem” in the relationship between lawmakers and the former president, who earlier tagged the chamber as the “most rotten institution,” Velasco said.

He said House members have been supportive of Duterte even when he was still the president.

“During the time of COVID, you know that all of the (Duterte’s) administration’s proposed legislation were approved by the House, including COVID measures and emergency procurement, things like that,” he added.

The House official also stressed that there is no problem in the relationship of the House and Duterte, but political party leaders deemed it necessary to issue a joint statement countering the former president’s tirades.

The lawmakers were also concerned over Duterte’s threat to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, who is a staunch critic of the younger Duterte.

The former president also accused Romualdez of spearheading moves to remove the P650-million confidential fund of his daughter.

On insinuations that the diversion of the funds of some departments to agencies involved in the protection of West Philippine Sea was politically motivated, Velasco said the Speaker still has two years to finish his term.

Velasco added that Romualdez also has another term, from 2025 to 2028, to meet the term limit.

“So why talk about 2028 elections?” Velasco said. — Sheila Crisostomo