00:00 The House Appropriations Committee immediately approved the budget of the Office of the Vice President for 2024.
00:06 Some lawmakers were not allowed to ask questions that would increase the controversy about the confidential fandom OVP.
00:13 Vice President Sara Duterte was adamant that there is nothing irregular in their use of the funds.
00:18 Ian Cruz was shocked.
00:23 After the opening statement of Vice President Sara Duterte and the audiovisual presentation of the Office of the Vice President,
00:31 Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos was moved that the House Appropriations Committee has already finished the discussion on the OVP budget.
00:39 In line with the longstanding tradition of giving the Office of the Vice President parliamentary courtesy,
00:46 I move to terminate the budget of the Office of the Vice President.
00:50 I object. Madam Chair.
00:52 We have a motion duly seconded for the termination of the budget of the Office of the Vice President.
01:01 And when passed in the vote, 21 congressmen were convinced that the motion is about to be passed compared to the three black members who are standing here.
01:10 They wanted to explain the vote but they were just asked to submit it.
01:15 We cannot pay for such proceedings. We are short-cutting the use of the funds of the Office of the Vice President in violation of the law.
01:26 Outside Nograles Hall.
01:29 Madam, your budget was approved so quickly. Congrats, Madam.
01:32 Thank you very much.
01:33 As part of the questionnaire of the black people, the 500 million confidential fund was received in the 2.385 billion pesos budget.
01:42 The Office of the Vice President should explain to the people where the 125 million confidential fund was spent that was not included in the budget of the 2022 GAA.
01:59 In a statement, VP Sara said that there is nothing irregular or not authorized in the use of the confidential fund
02:06 and the liquidation and accomplishment reports were submitted to the agencies.
02:12 Not even the BCM and the Black People who stopped the OVP's investigation about the 2022 confidential fund
02:19 because they did not receive any information that will prove its misuse.
02:24 After the discussion on the budget of the Office of the Vice President, the Committee on Appropriations immediately followed the discussion on the budget of the Department of Education,
02:33 which was also led by Vice President Sara Duterte.
02:36 Based on the proposed budget for 2024, the fund reached 758.60 billion pesos.
02:43 It is higher than the 721.79 billion pesos in the 2023 budget.
02:49 In the opinion of Alabai Rep. Edsel Lagman, the budget for the need of 20 million students of basic education is not enough.
02:58 She submitted the wish list of DepEd, which is equivalent to 150 million pesos of confidential funds of DepEd.
03:06 And if Duterte is ready to return the request for this.
03:10 There is a purpose and a need for confidential funds in the Department of Education
03:16 because basic education is intertwined with national security.
03:21 But of course, as we always say, we leave it to the discretion of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
03:30 For GMA Integrated News, Ian Cruz, for 24 Hours.
03:35 [Newsreel Narration]
03:49 (upbeat music)
