A party-list lawmaker rejected Wednesday a comment by Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer that the petitions assailing the constitutionality of the OVP’s P125 million confidential and intelligence funds “do not present an actual case or controversy nor assert a legally enforceable right.”

VP Sara asks SC to dismiss petition vs P125M confidential funds

In her consolidated comment, Duterte said: “The petitions are mere apprehension and speculation about contingent funds or confidential funds, which does not constitute a justiciable controversy.”

The controversy over the OVP’s funds started after the Commission on Audit confirmed that the P125 million in CIF was spent by the Office of the Vice President in just 11 days. 

Three separate groups earlier filed petitions for certiorari before the Supreme Court questioning the transfer of the funds to the OVP.

“In sum, considering the above arguments, the Office of the President overstepped the limits of its power by establishing a budget item or appropriation, when it is Congress, not the Executive, which has the power to approve and promulgate the appropriations law,” the petitioners said.

In a statement, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro described the transfer of funds to the OVP as illegal and unconstitutional for “violating all rules on the proper use of such funds.”

She noted the 2022 national budget did not allocate any confidential funds for civilian agencies like the Office of the Vice President.

"It represents a massive redirection of public resources away from essential services and towards opaque purposes with no accountability. It is a glaring example of bureaucrat capitalism and should be stopped," she said.

"There was no congressional authorization for the OVP to receive and spend P125 million in confidential funds, in clear violation of our laws.”

"This case goes beyond just theoretical arguments about budget rules. Real public money that could have helped struggling Filipinos was instead funneled into a legal gray area with zero transparency. The people deserve to know where their money went," she added.