Makabayan solons no proof of alleged OVP funds misuse

Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives admitted on Friday that they currently lack concrete evidence to substantiate their claims of the alleged misuse of P125 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022.

"We have no proof right now, pero may mga questions tayo. Kaya nga gusto nating magtanong eh. Kaya gusto nating mag-ungkat kung ano talaga yung nangyayari dito," Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said during a virtual press conference.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro echoed Brosas' concerns and refrained from providing a direct answer to the reporter's question. Instead, she underscored the secretive nature of confidential funds.

"Iyung sinasabi nating pruweba, dahil nga ito'y confidential ano, at hindi natin ma-scrutinize, hindi alam din ng ating kababayan itong paggamit ng confidential fund kaya ayaw nga natin ito," Castro said.

Makabayan solons, instead, have shifted the burden of proof in the alleged misuse of the confidential funds to Vice President Sara Duterte.

"As to how the P125-million confidential fund was actually spent, the burden of proof squarely falls on Vice President Sara Duterte and not on Makabayan bloc," Brosas said the next day after admitting that they can't prove the misuse of the OVP's confidential funds.