The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has withdrawn its proposed ₱500 million confidential funds under its budget for 2024.
In an interview with the media on Thursday, Nov. 9, Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Michael Poa mentioned that the OVP deemed that the confidential request may lead to "disunity" or "divisive".
"Hindi na po ipe-puruse o hindi na po itutuloy ng Office of the Vice President ang orihinal na mungkahi sa confidential funds. Bakit? Dahil nakikita natin na may tendency na nagkakawatak-watak o magiging divisive itong isyu na ito," he said.
"Dahil dito, naniniwala ang ating Bise Presidente na siya ay nanunmpa na panatilihing payapa at matatag ang bansang Pilipinas kaya hindi na niya ipe-pursue ang proposal para sa confidential funds," Poa added.
It can be recalled that the House of Representatives first stripped off the confidential and and intelligence funds (CIF) of government agencies that have no connection to intelligence or information and data gathering and are not mandated to protect national sovereignty.
The government agencies that got zero CIFs are the OVP, Department of Education, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
During the Senate's plenary debates on the OVP's proposed ₱1.874 billion budget for 2024, Senator Sonny Angara first revealed that the OVP will "no longer pursue" its request of ₱500 million confidential funds.
"We received a statement from the VP. According to her, the OVP can only propose a budget to support the safe implementation of its activities and programs to alleviate poverty and promote the welfare and each and every Filipino family. Nonetheless, they will no longer pursue the CIF," Angara told lawmakers.
"The reason why is because it is seen to be divisive and as per the Vice President, she sworn to keep the country peaceful and strong," he added.
Opisition Senator Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel commended Vice President Sara Duterte's decision to willingly give up the confidential funds.
"Just as I commended the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Migrant Workers, and other government agencies which willingly gave up their CIF or the CF or did not asked for these funds. Even this latest manifestation by the Vice President, I commend her for now categorically stating to this House that she does not want it anymore. If that's how I understand the statement, I commend the Vice President," he said.
