Vice President Sara Duterte is facing mounting criticism as the House of Representatives intensifies its investigation into her office’s use of confidential funds. During the fifth public hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Batangas 2nd District Representative
Luistro asked a question that cut to the core of the issue: did any vice presidents before Duterte have confidential funds? Former OVP Chief Administrative Officer Kelvin Jerome Tenido confirmed that former Vice President Leni Robredo did not have such funds. While reports indicate that former Vice President Jejomar Binay had confidential funds once during his term, this was unverified and an isolated case, unlike the consistent and significant allocation under Duterte.
This revelation has turned the spotlight on VP Duterte’s leadership and raised serious questions. Why does she require confidential funds when her immediate predecessor managed without them? The use and allocation of these funds reveals an administration that operates in secrecy and evasion. Unlike her predecessors, who maintained transparency and upheld accountability, VP Duterte’s push for substantial confidential resources suggests an administration driven by hidden agendas.
The use of substantial amounts of confidential funds is not just unusual, but it is also troubling. Instead of channeling resources into essential public services and transparent programs, VP Sara Duterte has chosen to prioritize funds that enable her office to operate without oversight. This choice has fueled suspicions that her leadership thrives on evasion and the concealment of information from the public eye.
If past vice presidents didn’t need these funds, why does Sara Duterte need them? The Vice President’s refusal to justify this allocation and explain the expenses incurred during the public hearing deepens these doubts. Her dismissive attitude toward the investigation, labeling it as “unnecessary,” portrays a leader unwilling to be accountable to the people she serves.
This ongoing issue with confidential funds underscores a much larger problem: is Sara Duterte more invested in shielding her office from scrutiny than in serving the public transparently? With the impending elections, the trust in her leadership is quickly eroding. This scandal has reshaped public perception and exposed a vice president more concerned with protecting her interests than serving the public.