Press Release - Transcript of Interpellation of Senator Risa Hontiveros during the Senate plenary debates on the 2024 OVP budget

Senator Risa Hontiveros (SRH): In 2022, the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) were augmented by P125 million from the Office of the President's (OP). During the proceedings of the House of Representatives, it was stated that the OVP submitted a liquidation report covering these funds. Currently, the Commission on Audit (COA) is auditing the use of this P125 million, and has committed to finish by the 15th of this month. What is the status of this audit? Sayang di lang umabot dito sa ating plenary interpellation. Ano na po yung status ng audit na ito?

Sen. Sonny Angara: I'm not sure, but maybe we can ask the COA when they come before us next week. they would be in a best position to answer.

SRH: The Chair is not in receipt of any initial findings of the COA?

SSA: No, your Honor.

SRH: Thank you. The said fund transfer/augmentation is being challenged. As a long time Senator and as our Committee on Finance Chair, ano po ang tingin niyo ang pwedeng pinaka-prudent na policy kaugnay ng augmentation ng isang budget category na hindi na-allocate naman ang funds in the first place? Dapat bang iregulate ang ganitong practice o kaya ipagbawal pa natin, ng Kongreso?

SSA: Thank you, your Honor. What I was told was that this was not an augmentation because an augmentation has a very technical meaning in budgetary terms. What I was told that this was a release from the contingent funds thus not subject to the rules set forth in laws and jurisprudence, which pertains specifically to augmentation of savings which are authorized to be done by the Senate President, by the President, by the Chief Justice and other officials who were permitted explicitly by the Constitution.

SRH: Salamat, good chair. Conceding for the moment na at least sa ngayon hindi pa subject sa rules at procedures ng augmentation - at pinagdedebatehan pa nga diba kung augmentation pa nga yung nangyari o ibang proses.

Still, kung hindi pa (unclear) yung rules at procedures ng augmentation, such a move of big money from the most important office of government to the second most important office of government, syempre kailangang siyang ngayon sana or eventually sooner or later mag-govern