FILE

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has come under fire for its disbursement of a staggering P73 million in confidential funds at the tail-end of 2022. The Commission on Audit (COA) recently issued a Notice of Disallowance, raising red flags over the lack of transparency and documentation for such a hefty expenditure.

The breakdown of the disallowed funds is eyebrow-raising. Over P69 million went to so-called “rewards” in cash, goods, and medicines, with little to no evidence backing up their success in information-gathering or surveillance activities. To add to the murkiness, another P3.5 million was spent on tables, chairs, computers, and printers—again, with no clear link to any confidential operations.

In response to these findings, House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. France Castro didn’t mince words. “It’s alarming that public money can disappear so quickly with no accountability,” she said. Castro’s frustration was palpable during the OVP’s budget deliberations, where Vice President Sara Duterte chose silence over clarification. “We’re wasting our time here,” Duterte quipped, leaving lawmakers and the public in the dark.

Castro’s metaphorical comparison of the OVP’s behavior to a squid squirting ink when threatened added to the tension. “The OVP shouldn’t act like a squid,” she remarked, underscoring her call for transparency.

As the budget debate continues, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about numbers on a page. It’s about trust, accountability, and the Filipino people’s right to know how their hard-earned money is being spent. And with political tensions simmering in the background, this story is far from over.