Matapos magkainitan sa budget hearing, naglabas ng pahayag si ACT Teacher’s party-list Rep. France Castro tungkol kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Matatandaang nagkainitan ang dalawa sa pagdinig tungkol sa budget ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) para sa 2025 nang magtanong si Castro kay Duterte tungkol sa paggamit ng P125 milyong confidential funds ng OVP noong 2022, ngunit hindi ito sinagot ng huli.
Dahil imbis sagutin ang tanong, kinuwestiyon ng bise presidente kung bakit nasa pwesto pa rin si Castro.
"Madam Chair [Stella Quimbo], I do not understand, bakit, a person convicted of child abuse is still sitting in a seat in the House of the Representatives?" pagkwestiyon ni Duterte.
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Bukod kay Castro, maraming katanungan din ng mga mambabatas ang hindi sinagot umano ni Duterte na patungkol sa budget ng OVP.
SAMANTALA, sa isang pahayag sinabi ni Castro na "deeply alarming and unacceptable" ang paggamit ng malaking halaga ng public funds sa loob lamang ng maikling panahon.
Karapatan din daw ng mga Pilipino na malaman kung saan ginagamit ang kanilang pera.
"It is deeply alarming and unacceptable that such a substantial amount of public funds was spent in an incredibly short span without sufficient transparency or justification," saad ni Castro. "The Filipino people deserve to know how their money is being used, especially when it involves confidential funds that are not subject to the same level of scrutiny as other budget allocations."
"The Vice President's refusal to provide clarity on these expenditures undermines the principles of transparency and accountability. We, as public servants, have a duty to uphold these values and ensure that government funds are used appropriately," dagdag pa niya.
"Kapag nasusukol na ang pusit ay naglalabas ng maitim na tinta. Ayaw natin ng ganoon. Ang pinag-uusapan dito ay budget. Huwag naman mag-ugaling pusit ang Office of the Vice President.
"The Filipino people are watching, and they expect their leaders to act with integrity and transparency. We will continue to demand answers and push for reforms that prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or political interests."