Calling confidential fund critics ‘enemies of peace’ only for Makabayan bloc, Dela Rosa says

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — Sen. Bato dela Rosa on Friday said he is with Vice President Sara Duterte on calling those who oppose confidential funds as “enemies of peace” but clarified that it only applies to lawmakers under the Makabayan bloc.

Duterte, who has received heavy criticism for spending ₱125 million in confidential funds in 2022 in a matter of days, said in a speech on Wednesday that those who oppose confidential funds oppose peace, and in turn are “enemies of the state.”

READ: VP Duterte defends confidential funds: 'It should not be constrained by time'

“I am with Vice President Sara in saying na ‘yung mga tao na yan [those people]…I am with them when they declare that ‘yung humaharang diyan ay ‘yung mga enemy of peace [those blocking confidential funds are enemies of peace]. I am referring to the enemies of peace as to those ‘yong [from the] Makabayan bloc,” Dela Rosa said in a phone interview shared with reporters.

The senator made it clear that he is not referring to other politicians “who may have other reasons” for being against confidential funds, but just to left-leaning groups that would be “affected” if the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) were given confidential funds next year.

“Gagamitin talaga ‘yan against sa kanila (Makabayan bloc) doon sa mga nangre-recruit sa mga kabataan dun sa eskuwelahan, kaya sila nagkukumahog na haharangin ‘yan,” Dela Rosa claimed.

[Translation: The confidential funds will be used against their recruitment of youth among schools, that’s why they are rushing to oppose it.]

For Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, who is part of the Makabayan bloc, it is a waste of time to respond to Dela Rosa’s remarks since the senator “did not study the issue fully,” adding that the Duterte ally assumed the OVP has an allocation of confidential funds in 2022.

ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, a House deputy minority leader, said it is “understandable that Sen. Bato dela Rosa would defend confidential funds and VP Duterte because they abhor transparency and accountability.”

“They have spent billions of taxpayers' money trying to red-tag us in the Makabayan