Martin hails Sara’s CIF withdrawal
Romualdez said he has not severed ties with the Dutertes despite their strong words against the House
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (Photo from PNA)
Daily TribuneRomualdez said he has not severed ties with the Dutertes despite their strong words against the House
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (Photo from PNA)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed on Monday as the "right decision" Vice President Sara Duterte's dropping of her pursuit of P650 million in confidential funds for 2024.
"I believe that's the right decision. We hail Vice President Sara's decision," Romualdez said, referring to a manifestation made by the VP after a Senate hearing on Thursday that she was no longer seeking the funds.
She had described the issue as "divisive" and running counter to her oath to "keep the country peaceful and strong."
Romualdez had led House moves to strip several government agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education which Duterte also heads, of confidential funds.
The House realigned the funds to agencies involved in security matters, like the Philippine Coast Guard which is tasked with patrolling the West Philippine Sea and guarding against incursions by foreign vessels like those of China.
Duterte had sought a total of P650 million in secret funds — P500 million for the OVP and P150 million for DepEd — in the proposed P5.7-trillion national budget for 2024.
The Vice President's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had choice words for the House after it took away the confidential funds from the OVP and DepEd. This prompted the chamber to issue a resolution upholding the House's integrity.
The resolution was seen as a rebuke of the former president. Another former president, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was said to have been stripped of her post as deputy speaker for not signing the resolution.
Romualdez said he has not severed his ties with the Dutertes despite enduring verbal attacks from them.