ACT Lecturers Rep. France Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte (FILE) Images from the Home of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte ought to “get her information straight” and never depend on “marites” (Filipino slang for gossiper) sources, in response to ACT Lecturers Get together-list Rep. France Castro, as she refuted claims that the Makabayan bloc held conferences with Home Speaker Martin Romualdez to debate an impeachment transfer towards the nation’s second highest official.
Earlier Wednesday, Duterte launched a video message, saying that Castro herself, reportedly revealed talks in regards to the former’s impeachment in November final yr. The Vice President added that Castro is “on the middle” of this dialogue.
“Unang-una walang katotohanan na kami sa Makabayan bloc ay nakipagpulong kay Home Speaker Romualdez para sa impeachment ni VP Duterte,” the lawmaker mentioned reiterating a earlier assertion from the Makabayan bloc.
(To begin with, it’s unfaithful that we within the Makabayan bloc met with Home Speaker Romualdez for the impeachment of VP Duterte.)
READ: Castro on Marcos’ protection of VP Duterte: Impeachment a part of democracy
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“Pangalawa, walang pahayag ang Makabayan bloc noong Setyembre 2023 na nagtutulak kami ng impeachment; sa katunayan might pahayag pa nga kami noong Agosto at Nobyembre 2023, na nagsasabi na untimely ang usapin sa impeachment,” she added.
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(Second, the Makabayan bloc had no assertion in September 2023 that we have been pushing for impeachment; we even had a press release in August and November 2023, saying that the impeachment matter was untimely.)
As a substitute, Castro mentioned they need to give attention to urgent issues such because the Workplace of the Vice President’s (OVP) P125 million confidential fund in 2022, citing a press release she issued in August final yr.
“VP Duterte ought to get her information straight at hindi puro marites ang supply,” she mentioned.
She likewise emphasised that the 2022 Normal Appropriations Act (GAA) had no allocation for confidential bills for the OVP and that Duterte didn’t request it within the finances proposal at the moment.
A Fee on Audit (COA) report in 2022, revealed that the workplace had a further allotment of P125 million for confidential bills throughout the second semester of the identical yr.
Nonetheless, Castro identified that the OVP had no such allocation within the 2022 GA, including that its switch was unlawful.
In September 2024 Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo confirmed that the confidential fund (CF) was spent in 11 days throughout the plenary debates on COA’s proposed finances for final yr.
“We ask that the OVP present an in depth public accounting of how the Php 125 million was spent. We hoped that Vice President Sara Duterte would use the OVP finances listening to to personally make clear her place on this delicate problem, however she simply used squid techniques to keep away from answering and even boycotted the listening to yesterday” Castro mentioned.
‘Impeachment logical consequence of CF’s misuse’
The lawmaker additionally reiterated the Makabayan bloc’s stance towards OVP’s use of confidential funds and that its elimination from the workplace’s finances final yr is “reputable and obligatory.”
She added that “the opportunity of impeachment stays a logical consequence of the evident misuse of confidential funds.”
“We reiterate that no authorized framework permits such speedy expenditure with out breaching established fiscal protocols,” Castro mentioned.
On Duterte’s pronouncements that her workplace may perform and not using a finances or with finances limitations, Castro mentioned that the vice chairman is deflecting from the core problem, which she mentioned is “adherence to authorized and moral requirements in public workplace.”
“The Makabayan bloc has been constant in defending the right allocation of the nationwide finances, making certain that funds are used to serve the pursuits of the Filipino folks slightly than private or political acquire,” the lawmaker mentioned.
“We’re dedicated to holding public officers accountable and to work for the abolition of all confidential funds. We’ll proceed to discover all authorized avenues, together with impeachment, to handle any abuse of energy and sources,” she additional mentioned.
“We urge our fellow legislators and the general public to stay vigilant and demand transparency in authorities transactions. It’s our collective responsibility to uphold the integrity of our establishments and to
make sure that public funds are used judiciously and responsibly,” she concluded.
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In a video message, Duterte additionally claimed that the problems surrounding her workplace’s use of CFs are a part of an orchestrated assault towards her.
