AMID ongoing criticisms regarding using confidential funds, particularly from lawmakers, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said there is a well-established legal foundation for this budget under Joint Circular Motion No. 2015-01.
During the opening of the Peace Village on Monday morning, September 11, 2023, held at SM City Davao Annex in Davao City, Duterte said, "Merong basehan sa batas sa paggamit ng confidential funds, (There is a legal basis for the use of confidential funds) and up to this point, there is no proof of wrongdoing by the Office of the Vice President and even the Department of Education. Congress duly approved it. It was disbursed and utilized accordingly."
When asked about the primary purpose of confidential funds, she reiterated that education and national security should be given priority, with the latter needing protection to safeguard the well-being of every student.
"Ginagamit namin for national security because education and national security are intertwined. Ito yung mga kabataan na dinadala and nire-recruit sa iligal na droga, kriminalidad, violent extremism, and terrorism (We use it for national security because education and national security are interconnected. These are the young people who are vulnerable to being lured into illegal drugs, criminal activities, violent extremism, and terrorism)," she added.
It's worth noting that the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) defended the legal basis for the Office of the President's decision to allocate a P221.424-million confidential fund to Vice President Sara Duterte's Office last year.
The OES also mentioned that following advice from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. deemed it necessary to disburse the amount in response to Vice President Duterte's request. DEF
