Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday lambasted Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno over his proposal to scrap the law providing free tertiary education to indigent and academic-able Filipinos.

"It's a shame that it seems like our own government is retreating from its constitutional duty to ensure that education is accessible for all," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"As it stands, free tertiary education prioritizes the youth who are academically able and who come from poor families," she added.

Diokno proposed to scrap the Republic Act 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act" which exempts eligible college students from paying tuition and other school fees, saying that it was "unsustainable."

Hontiveros lamented that providing support to students to complete their education is the government's job.

"Providing free tuition is the first step, and the government should do more to ensure their day-to-day expenses are met," she said.

Hontiveros challenged the Finance chief to instead target the confidential and intelligence funds allocated to government offices that are not supposed to receive them.

"If Sec. Diokno really wants to help prevent public funds from being wasted, why doesn't he look after the funds allocated to agencies that are not supposed to receive confidential funds, as well those mismanaging their budgets?" she stressed.

Under the proposed P.768-trillion National Expenditure Program for next year, a total of P9.2 billion was allocated for confidential and intelligence funds of government agencies and offices.

The Office of the President is asking for P4.56 billion worth of confidential and intelligence funds, while the proposed confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President is P500 million.