VICE President Sara Duterte’s latest “meltdown” will not be enough to divert the people’s attention from her alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds in both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), Malacañang’s allies at the House of Representatives said yesterday.
“No amount of on-screen meltdowns can bury the issue of the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under either the Office of the Vice President or DepEd. The Filipino people demand answers,” said Zambales Rep. Jeferson Khonghun. “No person in his right mind would even think, much less make such statements. The level of craziness is worrisome,” he said in Filipino.
Khonghun was reacting to Duterte’s statements at a Friday press conference where she said she had daydreamed about cutting off the head of President Marcos Jr. head during a graduation ceremony they had attended.
Duterte also said she once threatened the President’s elder sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, that she would exhume the remains of the President’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throw them into the West Philippine Sea, if political attacks against her will continue.
Khonghun said the Vice President should stop resorting to “theatrics” and directly address military officials’ denial that she allocated P15 million from the DepEd’s confidential funds for the Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) in 2023.
He said Duterte has to explain why the DepEd falsely claimed before the Commission on Audit (COA) that it used P15 million of its confidential funds for eight YLS events in 2023, when it was the Armed Forces that paid for it.
Duterte was concurrent education secretary from June 30, 2022, to July 19, 2024.
Khonghun said the public is waiting for “clear answers” from Duterte.
“Please answer, Madam VP Sara: Did you dupe the military of not? It’s also important for the people to know where the P15 million said to be used by the DepEd for YLS under your leadership went,” he said.
MILITARY FUNDS
Army Col. Manaros Boransing last week told the House committee on good government that the Philippine Army and local government units spent their own funds for the YLS. However, lawmakers found that DepEd, in liquidating P15 million in confidential funds, made it appear that it funded the YLS.
The Commission on Audit also confirmed acknowledgement receipts used by DepEd to show how the P15 million was spent, with the DepEd labeling the expenses as “rewards to informers.”
Boransing and three other military officials testified they would not have issued certifications for YLS had they known the DepEd under Duterte was using them to justify the P15-million payment from confidential funds, allegedly allocated to pay informants.
Last Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, and Rep. Arlene Brosas all said the Vice President was obviously just trying to cover up the issues against her questionable use of confidential funds by making outrageous statements.
“The Filipino people see through these diversionary tactics. They weren’t born yesterday. Pinagtatawanan ka na nila (they are laughing at you), Madam VP. Now it’s up to you. Will you continue being a comedy act or be woman enough to confront these issues?” Khonghun said.
La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V challenged the Vice President’s leadership style. “For VP Sara: given how you’re handling these allegations, now tell the people what kind of leader you are,” he said.
“This is just the latest in a series of alleged misuse of public funds. Unfortunately, the Vice President has never addressed these issues directly and instead resorts to making outlandish statements. Puro sound bites, pero walang substance (It’s all soundbite, not substance),” Ortega said.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
The two lawmakers called for a psychological evaluation of the second highest official of the land, saying it appears that the Vice President is not in healthy mental state.
“For someone in such a high position to make violent and grotesque threats, even in jest, shows a troubling level of instability,” Khonghun said. “There should be a thorough psychological assessment to ensure if she is fit to serve the public in that critical position.”
Ortega urged the OVP “to consider seeking professional help for Vice President Duterte, as this behavior is deeply concerning and could have serious consequences for our nation’s leadership.”
“The Filipino people deserve leaders who are mentally and emotionally stable, especially during challenging times,” he said.
Rep. Jude Acidre (PL, Tingog) said the Vice President seems to fit the description of the classic case of a government official who is “feeling entitled.”
“Those who cannot win an argument intelligently resort to the use of their fists or violence. Her display of arrogance only shows what she thinks of our democratic institutions and norms. Her demeanor in the press conference, as usual, says it all. It’s very telling,” he said. “Our most respected VP should stop being childish. She only showed how selfish and self-centered she is. She could not even engage lawmakers in discussions about the CIF and disallowed funds intelligently. And she’s supposed to be a lawyer — only one of unbecoming at that.”
Senate President Francis Escudero said he respects Duterte’s personal opinion but political attacks are not enough reason to justify her strongly-worded statements against President Marcos.
“… her choice of some words are unbecoming of her… The Vice President uttered some words of disappointment and frustration, but that should not be a reason to say those kinds of words especially she is being looked up to by many people,” he said in Filipino in an interview with radio dzBB.
“She said that would have wanted to cut the President’s head off. That is inappropriate thing to for one of the highest officials of the country,” he added.
BUDGET DEBATES
Escudero also said he would not like to pre-empt his colleagues in the Senate on how to handle Duterte’s lack of proper explanation on how she spent her confidential funds.
He said plenary debates on the proposed budget will be defended by the senator who is the sponsor of an agency’s budget, and not the actual head of agency. In this case, he said, it will be Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the finance committee.
Escudero said a copy of the OVP report in relation to the confidential funds has been sent to his office. He said they will need COA to explain details of each compliance documents, like what was done at the House. — With Raymond Africa
