Metro Manila, Philippines – A heated debate unfolded between Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro regarding the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the year 2022, leading to the suspension of the session in the House of Representatives today, September 19.
During the plenary debates on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or the proposed 2024 budget, Castro raised questions about whether a government office could fund certain items even if those items were not allocated in the given year.
Quimbo initially agreed with Castro’s inquiry.
It’s worth noting that Quimbo serves as the senior vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations and sponsors the general provisions of the GAB.
Castro promptly followed up with the question of whether the OVP was entitled to confidential funds (CF) from the 2022 budget, given that the specific line item for these funds was not originally specified.
Quimbo maintained her position that the OVP could receive CF.
Castro persisted, asking, “So, the OVP in 2022, is it entitled to the confidential fund?” To which Quimbo replied, “Yes.”
The exchange continued as Castro sought clarifications, questioning whether the use of such funds would be considered unauthorized or unlawful expenditure.
Quimbo reiterated her stance, saying, “They are entitled. And the reason for that is this: What was used are the contingent funds.”
The argument between Castro and Quimbo continued, with Castro also criticizing the OVP and Vice President Sara Duterte for requesting and later claiming the P125 million in confidential funds from 2022.
This controversy arises because the said funds were not included in the OVP’s budget computed during former Vice President Leni Robredo’s tenure.
Despite VP Duterte acknowledging that she requested the confidential funds for 2022, a recent letter from the Department of Budget and Management to appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co confirmed that the funds, indeed, came from the Contingent Fund under the previous year’s General Appropriations Act approved by Congress.
This implies that the funds were designated for the OVP, not transferred from the President’s office, as VP Duterte previously claimed.
