THE Office of the Vice President tried to block the Commission on Audit (CoA) from submitting an audit report on the OVP's confidential fund spending to the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said on Sunday.
In a press statement, Luistro said what the OVP did was tantamount to "suppression of public information."
When she appeared before the appropriations committee last week, Vice President Sara Duterte had heated exchanges with the panel members as she consistently refused to discuss how her office's confidential fund was spent.
Luistro said OVP Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez had, in a letter dated Aug. 21, "advised CoA against complying with the committee's subpoena duces tecum for the Notice of Disallowance and audits of the OVP and Department of Education's (DepEd) confidential funds for 2022 and 2023."
The subpoena "may not be validly enforced due to the nature of confidential funds," the OVP had said.
Duterte was education secretary until she resigned in July.
Luistro stressed that 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."
She continued: "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."
"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 said.
Luistro said Congress has a constitutional duty to scrutinize the budgets of all branches of government.
"This scrutiny is not just about legality; it is about ensuring that the people's money is used in a manner that truly benefits the public. When an official attempts to hide spending details, it undermines the very trust that the public places in its leaders," she said.
She said the "principle of Separation of Powers ensures that no branch of government operates unchecked. But when it comes to the oversight of public funds, this principle must yield to the need for transparency and accountability."The Manila Times tried but failed to get a statement from Duterte or anyone from her camp regarding Luistro's claim.
During CoA's budget briefing on August 13, the appropriations panel subpoenaed the agency to submit its reports on how the OVP spent its confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.
On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said Congress must use its power of the purse to realign the OVP budget.
In a radio interview, Pimentel also raised concerns about the duplication of government programs by the OVP.
He suggested that rather than having a separate budget for social assistance, the OVP should rely on agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide aid when necessary.
"This is what the Constitution demands and this is where our focus should be," he said.
It is not the vice president's role to distribute school bags, run bus routes or distribute books, he said.
He said the Senate and the House of Representatives should seriously consider the Vice President's statement that she was leaving it to Congress to decide the OVP's proposed P2 billion 2025 budget.
"And she's repeated that several times, which means she's serious about it. She also said the same thing in the Senate," he said.
Pimentel added, "She didn't just say it in this Congress; she said it last year as well, in a more respectful way. So, Congress should prove itself. Not just acting tough, but then keeping the budget as is."
"Congress shouldn't just act tough during hearings and then approve the budget as is. If you're going to show strength, follow through by making sure the budget aligns with the vice president's constitutional role," he said.
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