Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Nov. 7, welcomed the "opportunity to discuss the legalities" of the transferred ₱125 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in 2022.
"Malugod namin tinatanggap ang pagkakataong talakayin ang legalidad ng paglilipat ng pondo. Umaasa kami na ang dunong ng Korte Suprema ay magiging daan upang tuluyang matapos ang usapin na ito," she said in a video statement posted on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) official Facebook page.
Duterte urged the public to shift focus on "enhancing the quality of education" as well as "protecting children and Education employees from all forms of threats and abuse."
She also stressed on the importance of diverting focus on other important national issues.
"Napakahalagang pagtuunan din natin ng pansin ang pagtugon sa mga mahahalagang isyu ukol sa presyo ng mga bilihin na nakakaapekto sa ating mga mag-aaral at kanilang mga pamilya," she said.
Earlier that day, a group of lawyers and economists filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the transfer of the ₱125 million from the Office of President's (OP) contingency funds to the OVP's CIF.
The petitioners are asking the higher court to "declare the transfer as unconstitutional" and order the OVP to return the ₱125 million "to the government's treasury."
