A House leader has challenged Vice President Sara Duterte to present proof of accomplishments tied to the P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin emphasized that these funds belong to the public and require clear evidence of their outcomes to be considered properly spent.
“Hindi yan personal na pera. So, dapat malaman natin kung saan siya ginastos, kung saan siya napunta. Kasi hindi mo siya pwedeng gastusin lang nang walang kahahantungan,” she said.
Garin noted that if DepEd, during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary, utilized its P112.5-million confidential fund to counter illegal drugs, scamming, violence and other illicit activities in public schools, corresponding reports documenting those results should be accessible. While the identities of informants remain protected, she argued that the operational outcomes derived from their tips are not inherently confidential.
“Kung sa school man yan, confidential ang informant; confidential ang nagsabi kung sino ang mga scammers diyan. Sino diyan ang nagpapatakbo ng mga sugalan kung mayroon man sa loob ng schools. Sino diyan ang nag-i-incite ng violence sa mga school at nag-i-impluwensya sa mga kabataan? Sino diyan ang nagsu-supply at pinagkukunan ng mga droga?” she said.
“Iyun ang puwede na confidential. Subalit kung matumbok mo, eto yung mga nahuli na suppliers, eto yung mga nahuling manufacturer ng droga, eto yung mga scam hub na nambibiktima ng mga estudyante, ito yung mga utak, financer ng gambling…may output,” she added.
Garin stressed that questions persist regarding the utilization of DepEd’s P112.5 million alongside the P500 million allocated to the OVP.
“Iyan ang mga katanungan na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nasasagot at ipinagdarasal natin na sana ay masagot,” she said.
Addressing the broader controversy, the lawmaker acknowledged that public confusion surrounding the expenditures may stem from either genuine misunderstanding or deliberate attempts to obfuscate the issue. She reiterated that accountability is paramount because the funds originate from taxpayers.
“Napakaimportante kasing pag-usapan kung saan napupunta ang pera nina Juan at Maria de la Cruz,” Garin said.
To illustrate her point, she compared the scrutiny of public funds to ordinary household budgeting, noting how citizens carefully review utility bills and raise questions before making payments.