Solons affirm House’s ‘power of the purse’

A House leader on Wednesday affirmed Congress’ “power of the purse” after the Lower Chamber realigned P1.23 billion in confidential funds.

Lawmakers from Eastern Visayas, Cebu and Bohol also joined their colleagues in defending the House of Representatives and Speaker Martin Romualdez from critics opposed to the scrapping of the confidential funds.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte, in particular, criticized the House and threatened ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro after lawmakers stripped away P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) originally allocated to offices headed by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, and moving them to agencies that have actual national security functions.

“A determined 19th Congress resolutely led by Speaker Martin Romualdez felt and heard the clamor of the people to prioritize the use of some available confidential funds for emergencies, calamities, and crisis situations, and not for the restriction of individual freedoms and rights,” said Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations.

“Even in the past, the confidential funds of the executive branch of government have been meticulously and conscientiously decided by Congress. It is simply a matter of checks and balances indicative of a healthy democracy,” he added.

Haresco reiterated the responsibility and authority to protect the country’s national security primarily belongs to security forces, which should then get CIF.

“We have faith in the wisdom of the Speaker and of the august chambers of Congress to sensibly represent the will of our constituents and practice prudence and diligence in crafting the national budget for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Haresco said.

As this developed, 12 lawmakers from Eastern Visayas issued a joint statement upholding Romualdez’s leadership.

“We, the District Congressmen of Eastern Visayas, hereby express our unwavering support for Speaker Martin Romualdez and his exceptional leadership of the House of Representatives,” the joint statement read.

“Throughout his tenure as Speaker, Speaker Romualdez has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving the Filipino people and