MANILA (UCAN): Philippine opposition lawmakers called alleged controversial public spending by the office of vice president, Sara Duterte, into question on October 1. Duterte sought hundreds of millions of pesos from lawmakers to finance her office’s so-called “confidential” operations, UCAN reported on Octber 3.
Lawmakers uncovered a 125 million peso-budget [US$2.8 million] request, which was granted by the president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
When pressed by the House of Representatives, the vice presiident refused to explain past expenditures invoking “confidentiality” even though public money was spent.
The opposition, including the country’s biggest labour coalition, called for transparency saying the country could no longer afford “corrupt” officials.
“We cannot even increase the minimum wage of our workers amid inflation, yet hundreds of millions of pesos are pocketed by politicians instead of the money going to the citizenry,” Nagkaisa Labour Coalition’s president and lawyer, Sonny Matula, said on October 1. He said the unaccounted funds should have been spent on augmenting the worker’s daily wage, which until now could not support a family of three.
“We are pushing for a nationwide 150 pesos [US$2.7] increase so that our workers can cope with inflation but our petition was junked because according to the budget committee, there is no allotment for our proposal,” Matula added.
We cannot even increase the minimum wage of our workers amid inflation, yet hundreds of millions of pesos are pocketed by politicians instead of the money going to the citizenry
Sonny Matula
On October 6, the Philippine Inquirer reported that Duterte claimed the “confidential” funds were “crucial” in “ensuring the security and development of our beloved nation” and would allow her offices “to respond promptly to security threats.”
She labelled those opposing her request for secret funds “enemies of the state,” saying, “Anyone who attacks or undermines funds allocated for peace and order is naturally assumed to have insidious motivations.”
Fisher folk have also called upon Marcos and Duterte to allot more funds to modernise the Philippine Coast Guard as it faces hostile vessels in the disputed waters of the South China sea, UCAN reported.
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“We have very limited resources. Sometimes, I go there alone and I am bullied … getting shot by water cannons,” Batanes fisherman, Joey Collado, lamented. He complained of having get by with fewer catches each day “because my life is more important.”
The trust ratings for both Marcos and Duterte have plummeted evidently due to a lack of transparency in the spending of public funds. Private survey firm Pulse Asia revealed that their ratings dropped by 15 and 11 points, respectively, based on a national survey conducted from September 10 to 15. Marcos’ approval rating fell to 65 per cent, while Duterte’s decreased from 84 per cent to 73 per cent, according to the survey firm.
At a time when commodity prices are surging and inflation rates are on the rise, it is imperative that confidential funds be allocated to provide essential social services for marginalised Filipinos
Josh Valentin
LiCAS News reported on October 6 that the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines criticised Duterte for defending confidential and intelligence funds and suggesting that those opposing them are against peace. The group reminded Duterte that the public has the right to scrutinise government spending while stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
Josh Valentin, the National vice chairperson of the group said peace is “rooted in the just distribution” of the world’s resources.
“At a time when commodity prices are surging and inflation rates are on the rise, it is imperative that confidential funds be allocated to provide essential social services for marginalised Filipinos,” he said, adding that those who allow the culture of corruption to advance “are the ones truly obstructing peace.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the people should be vigilant, especially if transparency is “compromised.”
Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace chairperson Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan stressed, “Speaking out what is true is a moral obligation. Transparency is a must especially if it involves our money because a public office is a public trust.”
The trust ratings for both Marcos and Duterte have plummeted evidently due to a lack of transparency in the spending of public funds
Philippine legal experts said there was no reason for Marcos and Duterte not to disclose how they have been spending the “confidential” funds, UCAN reported.
“It cannot be denied that the disbursement and liquidation of confidential funds involve public interest because the funds are public, and public funds, being raised through taxes paid by the public, can be spent only for a public purpose,” retired Supreme Court justice and anti-corruption advocate, Antonio Carpio, told the media on October 1.
Carpio said that the public has the right to know where public funds are spent, a right guaranteed by the Constitution.
“The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognised. Access to official records, documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as the basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law,” Carpio added.
