Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday hit back again at Vice President Sara Duterte, who recently pronounced that she has zero respect for the latter after her office's proposed confidential funds (CF) for 2024 were scrutinized at the budget hearing.
In a video statement, Hontiveros stressed that she and the rest of the Filipino community are demanding accountability and not respect.
"Kaya, i-account nyo na lang kung para saan ang hinihingi nyong confidential funds," she added.
The Senator advised the Vice President to at least show respect for spending the public's funds if she could not show respect for her job.
"Higit isang linggo na simula nang naghearing tungkol sa confidential funds, pero mas marami ka pang patutsada kaysa sa paliwanag," Hontiveros ended.
The Senator made the remark a day after Duterte said she has "no respect" for Hontiveros and ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro which was why she singled them out in a statement last Monday.
On Monday, the Vice President broke her silence regarding the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) controversial CF in 2022 and hit on the two lawmakers who both vocally chastised the CF during the deliberations at the Senate and House of Representatives.
In the Senate, Hontiveros particularly questioned Duterte on where would her office use the proposed ₱500 million confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for 2024.
Senator Koko Pimentel also interrogated the Vice President on the alleged transfer of ₱125 million CF from the Office of the President (OP) to the OVP in 2022.
In the lower House, Castro and the rest of the Makabayan lawmakers asked Duterte how did the OVP spent ₱125 million in just 19 days. However, this question did not receive a response as the deliberation was terminated and Duterte abruptly left the hearing.
