
Philippines: Joint Press Statement for Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Call with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (27.10.2023)








“The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has not received an audit observation memorandum (AOM) from the Commission on Audit (COA), its spokesman Reynold Munsayac said on Monday, Sept. 25, amid questions on how the OVP spent its controversial 2022 confidential funds” (Manilla Bulletin News, 25.09.2023).
“Rep. Stella Quimbo, who has staunchly defended Vice President Sara Duterte’s use of confidential funds as above board, bared during Monday’s budget plenary debates that the P125 million in confidential funds used in 2022 was spent in just 11 days. This is much shorter than the 19 days that Makabayan lawmakers previously flagged” (Phil Star News, 25.09.2023).
As of today nothing is certain yet of what went down or how things was authorized in concerns of the movement of confidential funds from the contingency fund to the Office of the Vice President (OVP). We know now by the admission of the VP that she asked for it August 2022. While there was no budget post or any sorts of paperwork suggesting the need or the allocation of it to begin with. Meaning she was asking for something that wasn’t existing or had any legality of it.
While there is talk of the next budget year to give the OVP the amount of 500 million peso’s in Confidential Funds. There certainly should be questions to why and what need? Especially, when she cannot be accountable for the money she spent in 2022. Money that wasn’t hers or wasn’t in her budget. Secondly, her incumbent Leni Robredo never had the need for this and why should Duterte be any different?
Inday Sara is making her life hard. I don’t know what possessed her to think this was a splendid idea. Maybe it was “free money” and “unaccounted for” which made it a blast. She could suddenly get rid of old agreements and pay-off allies, which helped her to the top. Who knows, right?
Because, there was a massive spending spree of over 11 million peso’s over 11 days that is unaccounted for. Which is deemed “confidential” and for “intelligence” which the OVP has claimed the Department of Education (DepED) needs. That in itself is unique and outrageous. Because when is teachers playing spy-games or trying to dwell into foreign affairs. Neither are they using the schools or the curriculum to enhance the national security. Therefore, the ideals of “confidential and intelligence” funds involved in the educational sector is ridiculous to begin with.
As VP Sara Duterte should know better, but maybe that’s too much to ask. There is just more questions and it just a bother really. Because, the OVP isn’t in the business of this. Neither is there any haste or reassures of the need. It is politicking and misusing of public funds. This is the taxpayers that is mocked and the OVP is laughing at them.
The OVP cannot be serious and with the bloated budget proposal of 2023. It just shows what sort of administration that is running the Republic. They are taking the citizens for fools and hoping to get away it. In the same way the President and his Wife claims to watch Formula 1 in Singapore is a “networking and diplomatic enterprise”. While we all know it’s leisure and fun time for the President abroad.
Alas, within that is the problem. The OVP think she can stay strong on her name and the legacy of her father. She thinks she’s teflon and cannot be touched. Even if she has a major scandal or misused her power in her office. As a Duterte and the OVP she shouldn’t humble herself or really be accountable. These money she asked for and by all means she spent it. We don’t know where or on what. We know there will be excuses. However, I think this is a fancy “pork barrel” and we all know it too. Peace.






I don’t know about you… but the Office of the Vice President and the VP herself should thread the waters a bit careful. Her predecessor was under a lot more stress and pushback, as her father wasn’t hesitant to block, mock or go after her on a regular basis. Alas, Inday Sara Duterte has gotten off easy.
The confidential funds in the OVP and the Department of Education is within reason to question. The usage and the value of money. The “security arrangements” and whatnot seems far-fetched. As there are the military and police who takes care of that. Not the OVP or the DepEd. That’s just being honest and the OVP should be just that.
Instead she’s acting all high and mighty. Like she’s a Teflon Don and untouchable. Alas, everyone can be touched and everyone can be silenced. That is just the way of life. There is no certainties other than taxes and death. A representative and a high ranking official should especially know this, as there been so many victims of hubris and arrogance since the beginning of humanity.
Inday Sara might think she is clever and have all the allies she needs. She might think she can get away with anything. Because she has seen how her father has done that and been blatant about it too. That’s why she thinks that its easy to copy and get off the hook. However, that isn’t life and she should expect questions of her actions.
Especially when her office and the secondary department has questionable funds and possibly unauthorized expenditure. The confidential funds and the merits of these ones in the first place is flawed. It doesn’t make and only reasonable aspect for it’s existence is a secret slush-fund and a money-pit for the VP.
That is something the OVP and the VP would never say. It would undermine their mandate and the spirit of Inday. We all know that… and it would be speaking out the silent part loud. As a politician that is the most dangerous thing you can do. You better speak in codes and be mull.
Alas, her retort to the Makabayan block only shows how their “impeachment” and such is hurting her pride. She wanted to eat in peace and not be really questioned about it. Inday Sara wanted to get away with it and expected to do so. However, there are others who wants to look into it and see where it really went. This because the confidential funds in both places doesn’t make sense. Unless, she has side-dishes and operating businesses with funding from government escrow accounts. That would be worse than the pork barrels and Inday knows it…
Inday Sara Duterte should know better and should take advice. She has the ability and the reasoning, if she wants to. We might say that she has been able to play it out this far and maybe she thinks she can overcome it with ease. As the “probe” will exonerate her and get her off the hook, which was the plan all along.
I knew it when I heard it the first time that the Confidential funds was given to the OVP and DepED that it would become a scandal. It was bound to happen. The OVP and DepED isn’t supposed to have these and they should be transparent about their spending. There shouldn’t be ghosts, shoddy tenders or weird transactions. No, it should be in the open and a clear protocol of how to spend the public funds.
We are seeing that this isn’t the case. The VP is acting supreme and overconfident. That might be her downfall. As she thinks that her alliances and role in government will be her saviour. However, there might be a time when she can be touched. That’s part of life and when your at the top. You should be extra careful, because several people are plotting for your downfall. Therefore, Inday Sara should be considerate, but we know that won’t happen. Peace.



