Sara Duterte Explains Refusal To Answer OVP Budget Hearing Questions
✨Why doesn't Sara Duterte publicly explain how she spent the Confidential Fund?✨
This is the proper course of action. The right thing to do.
It's important to understand that the use of Confidential Funds (CF) in the Philippines is guided by secrecy provisions due to the sensitive nature of the expenditures involved.
While there may not be a legal prohibition against Vice President Sara Duterte discussing the existence of Confidential Funds, the specific details of their spending are typically treated as confidential.
This practice has a solid legal basis, as outlined in DBM Joint Circular 2015-01. Moreover, as a public official, Vice President Sara is obligated to safeguard classified information related to sensitive, confidential, and intelligence matters, as stipulated in various memoranda and executive orders such as:
•OP Memorandum Circular Nos. 78, s. 1964, and 196, s. 1968;
•Letter of Instruction 1420 s.1984;
•EO608, s. 2007, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations dated April 14, 2009
Restricting public disclosure is deemed essential for preserving the security and success of initiatives associated with confidential funds in the interest of national security and strategic objectives. Full public disclosure would violate the legal frameworks that Vice President Sara is bound to adhere to.
This is why she provides only general explanations, such as addressing threats to the learning environment, safety, and security of DepEd students and personnel.
Concerns about sexual abuse, violence, corruption, illegal drugs, insurgency, terrorism, extremism, child labor, child pornography, criminal activities, gangsterism, scams, and others are acknowledged.
Regarding the OVP, it's clarified that the fund isn't used for implementing programs but for surveillance and intelligence gathering to ensure targeted and expected outcomes. Still under the provisions of CIF.
Collaboration between COA, DBM, DILG, DND, and GG has led to guidelines for a more accountable and transparent use of Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF). The joint Circular establishes internal controls, accounting rules, and auditing standards to prevent mishandling or improper application of the CIF.
The rapid budget expenditure within 11 days is explained by the projects being pre-planned since August of the previous year. No law prohibits or dictates how the OVP should utilize the fund; the rule is simple—it must be audited. Both DepEd and OVP submitted their accounting well before the deadline for COA scrutiny. Meaning, they are not hiding anything.
If COA finds irregularities about the CF they will issue an AOM, NS, and ND addressed to the HoA as may be warranted in accordance with the RSA or COA Circular No. 2009-006 dated Septemebr 15, 2009.
If there's still confusion, then that’s a comprehension issue.
Tio Moreno