Decorum takes backseat as VP Duterte gets asked about confidential funds in House budget hearing
Vice President Sara Duterte--seemingly intent on having her way with the House Committee on Appropriations--participated in one of the most tense and bizarre budget hearings in recent memory on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/27/decorum-takes-backseat-as-vp-duterte-attends-house-budget-hearing
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/27/decorum-takes-backseat-as-vp-duterte-attends-house-budget-hearing
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00:00of the year, and this includes asking questions and listening to your answers,
00:08which is a very important input in our work.
00:13So, we will proceed to ask questions.
00:22Madam Chair, my answer for every question will be,
00:26I will forgo the opportunity to defend the budget of the Office of the Vice President
00:32through a question and answer, and I will leave it to the House to decide on the budget submitted.
00:40So, we will waste time on this. I will repeat the answer.
00:47That is acceptable to us.
00:51Unless I hear any objection, that is acceptable to us.
00:56Because it is, I believe, the right of every Filipino to listen to the questions of the 17 on the list.
01:10I believe that if there are any questions that may arise, but there are many issues that we are facing right now.
01:18We are listening to your speech earlier, even though it is not related to our budget.
01:26There were many questions that were sparked.
01:30That is why, I believe, that is why I said earlier, let us limit the questions about the budget.
01:36So, if you were given the opportunity to share your insights, we will also share our questions.
01:50So, with that, the Deputy Minority Leader, Ms. Castro, may now proceed.
01:58I will not repeat my answer every time there is a question.
02:03May I seek permission that every time there is a question, that is my answer.
02:08Madam Chair, I will call you and you can do as you please, Madam Chair.
02:13But I will recognize you.
02:17And then, Madam Chair, may I be given the opportunity to explain why I will not and I will forgo the opportunity to defend the budget in a question and answer in the committee.
02:33And leave it to the House of Representatives to decide on the budget submitted.
02:42So, Madam Chair, maybe the first observation on the budget for 2024,
02:50the Vice President said, Madam Chair, that it is slow and low utilization.
02:57We saw that in the presentation.
03:00So, the utilization is very low.
03:04But of course, I will just comment, it is faster in the confidential funds.
03:10100% in 11 days.
03:12Madam Chair.
03:14So, Madam Chair.
03:17So, according to the utilization of the confidential and intelligence funds submitted by the COA to us.
03:28So, we have here surveillance and monitoring.
03:32I will just say, Madam Chair, the purchase of information out of 125 million confidential funds in 2022.
03:40Purchase of information, 14 million.
03:43Payment of reward, 10 million.
03:45Rental and other incidental expenses relative to the maintenance of safe houses, 16 million.
03:51Purchase of supplies, 35 million.
03:54Provision of medical and food aid, 40 million.
03:58Payment of incentives or traveling relative to confidential operations, 10 million.
04:06So, a total of 125 million conducted surveillance in 132 areas in 11 days.
04:15So, 100% utilization.
04:19Madam Chair, I have also here a report about the notice of disallowance.
04:27According to the notice of disallowance, the COA disallowed 73,287,000 out of 125 million confidential funds used by the OVP in 2022.
04:40So, this is 58.63% of the 125 million.
04:45So, can you confirm?
04:49The Vice President.
04:50Madam Vice President.
04:52Madam Chair, since you allowed her a snide comment, you will allow me a snide comment as well.
05:00So, my question is, can you confirm?
05:04Yes.
05:05Okay.
05:06Yes, Madam Chair.
05:07So, before you proceed, may I remind both our guests and our resources.
05:15You should have reminded her to explain.
05:19I called your attention, Madam Chair.
05:21You did not recognize me.
05:23So, if you allowed her that, you allowed me a snide comment as well.
05:31I did not.
05:32I don't recall hearing a snide comment, Madam Vice President.
05:37A snide comment, that's a matter of judgment.
05:41So, please proceed.
05:42Madam Chair, I would like the Secretariat to repeat the first three lines of the comments.
05:52Point of order, Madam Chair.
05:54Point of order, Madam Chair.
05:56So, let's please proceed with the answer.
05:58Point of order, Madam Chair.
06:00Point of order, Madam Chair.
06:01Madam Vice President, please proceed with the response.
06:16There's a question.
06:18Please proceed with the response.
06:20Madam Chair, I do not understand why a person convicted of child abuse is still sitting in a seat of the House of Representatives.
06:48If you allowed her a snide comment and then you will not allow me, please wait a snide comment.
06:56Excuse me, our members and our guests, please wait to be acknowledged before you speak.
07:07Okay, so at this point, Honorable Manuel.
07:12Madam Chair, again, it's another point of order.
07:15Because when we have deliberations, we should stick to the topic.
07:19Madam Chair, we cannot divert the discussion so that we do not answer the questions of our lawmakers.
07:27This is actually the best opportunity for proceedings.
07:31The public can see the answer of the Vice President.
07:35So, we cannot allow such arguments that do not touch on our topic.
07:42Madam Chair, I will make this easy for you.
07:46Please make your responses direct to the podium.
07:51I will make this easy for you.
07:53What rules are we using for this budget hearing?
07:56We have our rules adopted by the Committee on Appropriations.
08:03Right, okay.
08:04We searched for that rule.
08:07So, we only found the general rules.
08:15So, we have a copy of the rules for the budget hearings.
08:22Well, as far as I'm concerned, the rules are more important for us.
08:27What you need to hear is the acknowledgment for you to begin to speak.
08:33That is the most important thing for the guests.
08:36That is the truth.
08:37Yes, ma'am.
08:38So, the most important thing is, yes, you may proceed.
08:41And the termination is the most important thing.
08:46For the rules, that is the most important thing for the members.
08:50But we may provide the copy to you.
08:52Yes, ma'am.
08:53So, please go ahead and answer the question.
08:55May we request a copy?
08:56Yes, ma'am.
08:57Yes, absolutely.
08:58But please, there is a question.
09:00Do you want us to repeat the question?
09:02And we will not penalize you on the time.
09:05You can repeat the facts from the Notice of Disallowance.
09:08I don't need any honorable questions.
09:10Yes, Honorable Franz Castro, you may repeat your question on the Notice of Disallowance, I believe.
09:16Yes, ma'am.
09:17Madam Chair, so according to COA, the Notice of Disallowance is amounted to $73,287,000 out of $125,000.
09:28And this, Madam Chair, is the breakdown of the disallowed purchases.
09:35So, reward payment of $10 million.
09:38Payment of rewards, various goods, $34,857,000.
09:44Payment of rewards, medicines, $24,093,000.
09:49Tables, chairs, desks, computers, and printers, $3,500,000.
09:56So, the question, Madam Chair, so the letter A, B, and C, as we have seen, are in the joint circular.
10:05How about the tables, chairs, desks, computers, which amounted to $3.5 million?
10:16Can you explain why this was purchased, Madam Chair?
10:23Madam Vice President.
10:24Madam Chair, I still request for the rules of the budget hearings.
10:30Okay.
10:31Vice President.
10:32Do you want me to answer, ma'am?
10:34Yes, Madam.
10:35This is a hearing of the budget of 2025.
10:41Where are the confidential funds?
10:44The question is confidential funds.
10:46Madam Chair.
10:47Where are they?
10:48Madam Chair, you may proceed.
10:50These are my continuing questions for 2020.
10:57During the last budget, the $125 million was not explained.
11:04We know that this is not in the budget of 2022.
11:09So, Madam Chair, in our rule, all of these are being asked.
11:14So, according to the budget, whether it is in the past, because we can see the utilization of the budgets.
11:20Even in the past years, we can blame this, Madam Chair.
11:25Am I right, Madam Chair?
11:27I will agree with you, Hon. Franz Castro.
11:31You may proceed, Madam Vice President.
11:33That is my answer, ma'am.
11:36Our topic here and what you submitted to us is the budget proposal of 2025.
11:44Where in the budget proposal of 2025 is the item confidential funds?
11:52In aid of legislation, it is already in your rules, right?
11:58The discussion should be germane to the topic.
12:01The topic is the 2025 budget proposal.
12:05Now, tell me.
12:06Madam Vice President, the Hon. Franz Castro has already provided a sufficient explanation for why she asked the question.
12:15So, please proceed with your answer.
12:17Madam Chair, why are we discussing the budget of 2023 and 2024?
12:26Hon. Franz Castro.
12:28So, if she does not want to answer, Madam Chair, let me go through with my question because this is related.
12:36Remember, Madam Chair, we discussed this last year.
12:41This 125 million cannot be explained because it is confidential.
12:48It is hidden in the word confidential.
12:51Now, we need to explain it and it is in the interest of the people.
12:56You owe 125 million, Madam Chair.
13:00So, we need to explain this to the OVP.
13:07So, we cannot question the rules, question the topics, etc.
13:12Because this is also related to the budget, Madam Chair.
13:17Madam Chair.
13:18Madam Chair.
13:20Yes, you may proceed.
13:21I request that the Chairperson of the Finance Committee preside over this hearing.
13:30Madam Vice President, with due respect, you are not allowed to do that, Madam Vice President.
13:45You are not allowed to introduce an emotion.
13:50You are a resource person this hearing, Madam Vice President.
13:55I requested.
13:57I requested.
13:58You are a resource person.
14:00I requested that the Chairperson of the Committee.
14:03Madam Vice President, just please answer the question.
14:06The issue on confidential funds falls squarely within our discussion of your 2025 budget.
14:15Can you hear what she said, Madam Vice President?
14:18Can you hear what she said, Madam Vice President?
14:21There are no rules here.
14:23Please proceed and answer the question.
14:26It's a very simple question.
14:28Please explain the specific spending on those items that she enumerated.
14:36Amounting to a total of, Honorable French, do you want to repeat that?
14:42Amounting to a total of P73.287 million.
14:46Because there is a notice of disallowance, Madam Chair, it is illegal and not in accordance with the Joint Circular by the COA, the BM, and other related agencies.
15:01If it is disallowed, it means that its use is illegal.
15:06Madam Chair, these items that I mentioned, Madam Chair.
15:12Madam Chair.
15:14Madam Vice President.
15:15You cannot allow a member of the House to just claim that it is illegal.
15:27There is a notice of disallowance.
15:31There is a procedure inside the Commission on Audit.
15:36It is not on her desk.
15:39Honorable French.
15:40Okay.
15:41Thank you, Madam Chair.
15:42Thank you for the explanation, Madam Vice President.
15:47Okay.
15:48Next.
15:49According to the accomplishment report of OVP, it spent P10 million for payment of reward.
15:56So, Madam Chair, in 11 days, how many people and how much is the reward?
16:02In fact, COA disallowed the whole amount spent by OVP for payment of reward.
16:07Madam Chair, isn't this questionable?
16:13Madam Chair, the invitation letter that we received from the House of Representatives.
16:21Dear Vice President Duterte, the House Committee on Appropriations will hold briefing hearings on the budget proposals of various departments, agencies, and corporations.
16:31Relative to the Fiscal Year 2025 National Expenditure Program as the basis of the Fiscal Year 2025 General Appropriations Bill.
16:41Where is it?
16:43In my presentation earlier, where is the confidential funds?
16:49Honorable France Castro.
16:52The letter that we sent our Madam Vice President reads as follows.
17:00In the second paragraph, we noted the following topics to be discussed.
17:10Item number three is comparative budget allocation and utilization rate from Fiscal Year 2019 to 2023.
17:19That's item number three.
17:22So, I can provide you copies of the letter.
17:25So, clearly, confidential funds spent in 2022 falls squarely within that.
17:34So, yes, Honorable France, you may proceed.
17:37Yes, Madam Chair.
17:39So, Madam Chair, it looks like I will not be answering our Vice President.
17:46So, to each and every answer of our Vice President, for the record, since the VP does not want to explain,
17:54this means that the expenditure of P125 million of the people's money cannot be explained.
18:03So, that's all, Madam Chair.
18:05That's why we are asking the Vice President or the OVP to explain these items.
18:16Anyway, Madam Chair, the utilization, confidential, and intelligence funds came from them.
18:24And of course, this is the only thing I have here, the Notice of Disallowance.
18:28We really want to understand, Madam Chair, the Notice of Disallowance.
18:33Of course, they will explain it.
18:35So, the people of the country should know that they are the ones giving the funds for the operations of the OVP and all the agencies.
18:47And they need to explain it.
18:49So, Madam Chair, we cannot have tactics like this, like sorry for the pussit,
18:57that when the pussit is about to fall, it turns into a black ink.
19:01We don't want that, Madam Chair, because what we are talking about here is the budget.
19:07So, the Office of the Vice President should not make a fuss about the pussit.
19:12We will not be able to finish.
19:14That's what I told you earlier, you don't want to believe me.
19:17We will really reach tomorrow here.
19:20Madam Chair, is this an inquiry regarding what you said?
19:28Yes, and please, I remind also our interspersons to please act in a respectful manner.
19:36I'm sorry, the firing of the Presiding Officer of this hearing is not within your power.
19:55Why are you crucifying me for saying a fact?
20:00That somebody is convicted of child abuse sitting in the chair.
20:10Pussit?
20:11And then, I cannot fire the presiding chair.
20:16So, why?
20:17Yes, we...
20:18Why are you so one-sided, Madam Chair?
20:21Is it because there are a lot of you on the other side and I'm the only one here?
20:24We note all your comments, Madam Chair, and let us now proceed.
20:30Madam Chair, point of order.
20:32Yes, the Honorable Daniel Bante.
20:35I just came in and I hear this.
20:38We're not talking about the budget, we're accusing each other here.
20:42I'd like to find out from the resource speaker if this is the kind of hearing that we're going to have.
20:51Sir, I am not the Presiding Officer of this hearing.
20:54I know.
20:55Yes, sir.
20:56But the thing is, you're asking questions, Madam Chair.
20:58The resource speaker does not have any right to ask questions.
21:04What do you have?
21:07Where is that?
21:08Madam Vice Chair, Madam Vice Chair, this is a budget hearing.
21:14Request for clarification.
21:16Some order, please. Some order, please.
21:19Yes, Honorable Daniel Bante, you may proceed.
21:21I'm just asking a question to our resource speaker.
21:25You know, because she's asking a question and she's accusing some of the members of this committee.
21:32I just would like to find out if we are the ones that have the right to ask questions.
21:37And her right is to answer the questions of the committee.
21:41Okay, so we're not talking in point of order, Madam Chair.
21:44Yes.
21:45I think you understand, Madam Vice President, am I right?
21:47No, sir. I'm going to ask the Chair to ask you to clarify what are my accusations.
21:54Please wait to be recognized, ma'am.
21:57So again, I'd like to remind our resource persons that you are here, you're invited to answer, to present, and you've done that.
22:10Thank you very much.
22:11And at this point in time, you're here to respond to the questions of our members.
22:18And we request you to please respond in a direct way.