Lawmakers to VP Sara: Gov't budget is not controlled by two House leaders

MANILA, Philippines — House leaders on Tuesday, September 10, rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the House speaker and the appropriations committee chairperson solely “control” the government’s budget.   

Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol), who is the appropriations committee chairperson, said that Duterte is merely deceiving the public to divert their attention from her need to explain how the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent its budget in previous years. 

“Unang-una, again, pangbubudol na naman po 'yan. Napakalaking pambubudol, akala nila ang taumbayan hindi matalino, matalino po at sasagutin po natin yan,” Co said. 

(First of all, this is another scam. It’s a huge deception, as if they think the public is not smart. The public is smart, and we will address this.)

“Obvious na diversionary tactic (ang sinabi ni Duterte). Nililihis niya ang issue kasi ayaw niyang magpaliwanang,” he added.

(It's obvious Duterte’s statement is a diversionary tactic. She’s deflecting the issue because she doesn’t want to explain.)

Co reiterated that the budget is deliberated not only by the House but also by the Senate. After both chambers complete their separate scrutiny of the government budget, a bicameral conference committee will be convened to finalize it.

When asked by reporters in an ambush interview about his allegation that Duterte is “corrupt,” Co said it has long been “common knowledge.”

Co likened the OVP’s spending of its P125-million confidential fund in just 11 days to the misuse of government funds by pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, adding that Duterte even "surpassed" Napoles.

He also claimed the Commission on Audit (COA) had reported that the OVP mismanaged confidential and intelligence funds, which COA is now requesting to be returned.

According to Co, state auditors found that about 60% or P73 million of the confidential funds spent by the OVP were considered inappropriate expenditures.

Before issuing a notice of disallowance to an agency, the COA releases an audit observation memorandum (AOM), informing the agency of any deficiencies found in its accounts, transactions and operations.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe