ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro said that they do not take things personally when questioning Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte with regards to the confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs).

In an interview with DZRH’s Isyung Pambayan, she said that they had no intention of targeting Duterte over the unexplained CIF of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd.

“Sa bahagi namin, siguro incidental lang 'yan. Pero wala kaming personal na punterya o political punterya sa kanya. Nagkataon lang na gumamit siya ng pondo na wala naman sa budget niya,” Castro explained.

“Hindi gaanong naipaliwanag kung paano ginamit itong CIF na P125. Problema pa rin dito, siyempre bakit nagkaroon ng confidential funds kahit wala ito sa budget. At itong mga CIF na nasa kanya, ay hindi niya maipaliwanag. Kaya lumalim yung pagreresearch tungkol sa kanya [VP Sara] doon sa confidential para makita ang relasyon at past history sa paggamit ng pondo," she continued.

According to Castro, they have submitted amendments to the Congress’ small committee, including the reallocation of funds from government agencies to the offices that manage the order and security of the country.

“Nag-submit kami ng amendment. Itong more than P10 billion na budget for CIF. Nire-rechanel sana natin 'yan doon sa mga social services kasama na ang PCG at BFAR na mangangalaga sa WPS,” the Makabayan Bloc representative added.

“Yung iba namang security agencies, meron na silang CIF. Retain natin ay good amount na 'yan para sa kanilang surveillance at intelligence activities,” she added.

Last month, Congress agreed to reallocate the confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) to agencies in charge of ensuring national security following the recent actions of China in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, the Vice President defended the allocations of her offices' confidential and intelligence funds, saying they are crucial for the peace and order of the nation.