VP Sara Duterte no longer pursuing confidential funds for OVP, DepEd

Transcript

00:00 The vice president, knowing she doesn't have the numbers in both chambers of the legislature,

00:05 has pulled her request for confidential and intelligence funds for both offices she heads off the table.

00:11 This to punctuate and put to bed the issue that has shaken her unity in ruling party coalition.

00:16 As we hear more from our Daniel Manolestas.

00:19 Vice President Sara Duterte is no longer pursuing her request confidential funds for both offices she heads.

00:29 The office of the vice president and the department of education.

00:32 This was confirmed during the senate budget deliberations by both budget sponsors of the two offices.

00:39 The office of DepEd, the VP secretary has a statement and I'll read it.

00:45 We are all parents who want to protect our children.

00:48 The safety of our children is the safety of the future of our country.

00:54 Nonetheless, DepEd will no longer pursue confidential funds.

00:58 We humbly request that the funds be realigned to the national learning recovery program

01:04 because we do not expect good scores for the 2022 PISA results coming out this December.

01:09 We're in receipt of a statement from the vice president we discussed earlier.

01:14 And according to her, the OVP can only propose a budget to support the safe implementation of its PAPs or programs,

01:21 activities and programs to alleviate poverty and promote the general welfare of each and every Filipino family.

01:28 VP Duterte explained in a statement by saying the confidential funds issue has turned so divisive

01:35 and runs counter to the oath she swore as vice president to keep the country peaceful and strong.

01:41 A number of senators lauded the move by the vice president.

01:45 Given this latest manifestation by the vice president, I commend her, Mr. President,

01:52 for now categorically stating to this house that it's not a deferral to our wisdom.

02:01 She does not want it anymore, Mr. President.

02:05 I apologize to Vice President Sara Duterte for no longer pursuing the request for confidential funds

02:11 so that we could already settle this divisive issue.

02:16 I remain confident in our vice president and our secretary.

02:22 VP Duterte does not want it anymore. We talked to her. She does not want the confidential funds to be returned.

02:28 So, it's good that she's an academic.

02:30 The OVP's allocation for spending next year, along with the proposed budget of the office of the president,

02:37 already hurdled the budget deliberations at the Senate.

02:40 Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri praised the OVP's report on the confidential and intelligence funds.

02:47 Zubiri said the office of the president's CIF report is a detailed and comprehensive one compared to other government agencies.

02:57 We really appreciate that. That's the good reporting.

03:00 I saw where the money was spent, where it was spent, where it went, and there are some outcomes.

03:06 In other words, there are cases filed, there are apprehensions.

03:10 So, we appreciate that. The others just five pages, two pages.

03:16 That's why we even get confused with the CIF of other agencies.

03:21 But to you, I salute you guys. Your reports were very comprehensive.

03:27 Daniel Mananastas for The Nation.

03:29 [MUSIC PLAYING]