Palace Emphasizes Differences in Confidential Funds Spending
Malacañang firmly stated that the questionable spending of the confidential funds of the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte should not be equated with that of President Marcos’ office. The key issue revolves around the significant difference in the amount and speed of expenditures, sources said.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro explained during a Palace briefing on June 17 that the confidential funds used by the Office of the President did not reach P125 million within just 11 days, a figure reportedly spent by the OVP in 2022 according to the Commission on Audit. “Hindi po dapat natin ihambing ang naging sitwasyon ni bise presidente sa ating Pangulo, unang-una po ay wala naman po yatang ginastos ang ating Pangulo ng 125 million pesos sa loob lamang ng 11 days,” she said.
Proper Accounting and Transparency Required
The Palace official stressed that the Office of the President has maintained clear documentation and transparency in handling its confidential funds. “Ang tanong natin: Nagkaroon ba ng Notice of Disallowance ang Office of the President patungkol sa confidential funds? Mayroon na ba tayong balita na gumagawa ng mga questionable receipts ang Office of the President patungkol sa confidential funds?” Castro questioned.
She further clarified that while aliases might be used in managing confidential or intelligence funds, proper accounting protocols must still be followed. “Mayroon po kasi tayong tinatawag na proper accounting, maliwanag po iyan sa Joint Memorandum 2015-01. Kahit sabihin po nila na ito’y aliases, dapat po ang mga tunay na mga dokumento ay alam po ng SDO (Special Disbursing Officer), alam po ng gumamit, hindi po basta-basta puwedeng gumamit lang ng aliases,” Castro emphasized.
Accountability Demanded Amid COA Scrutiny
Castro added that all original documents must be securely stored within the agency’s vault and must be accessible if the Commission on Audit (COA) requests them. “At kapag po na-tap lang ng COA at nagkaroon ng pagtatanong, puwede po nilang ilabas ang lahat ng mga dokumentong ito. Hindi puwedeng magmaang-maangan ang SDO na wala siyang alam,” she concluded.
The ongoing discussion highlights the need for strict accountability and transparency in managing public funds, especially those tagged as confidential. While the debate continues, local leaders note the importance of upholding proper financial practices to maintain public trust.
For more news and updates on confidential funds, visit Filipinokami.com.