The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 2022 confidential fund was released from the contingent fund under the 2022 national budget, contrary to former broadcaster Jay Sonza’s claim that it was transferred from the Office of the President (OP).
Multiple news articles, citing a Sept. 11, 2023 letter from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to House appropriations chairperson Zaldy Co, reported that the P125 million confidential fund given to the OVP was sourced from the P7 billion contingent fund in the national budget for 2022.
A day after House committee on good government and public accountability chairperson Joel Chua said on Oct. 28 that Duterte may face impeachment over “fund misuse,” Sonza erroneously claimed on Facebook:
(House of Representatives) Quadruple (Quad) Committee, stop being stupid. The P125M Intel Fund you are digging came from Malacanang. It was the Palace who transferred the funds.
In her letter, Pangandaman said no “transfer” of funds had occurred, clarifying that:
While it is understandable that, at the outset, the release of funds to the OVP may be perceived as a transfer, the same was not technically so, for such release was funded from Contingent Fund under the (fiscal year) 2022 (General Appropriations Act) and not from the budget of the OP.
During a Senate session on Nov. 8, 2023 on the proposed 2024 national budget, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said calling the OVP’s confidential fund a “transfer” had been a mere “error” in the use of wording.
When Senate Majority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr. sought clarification, Angara said at the 5:47:20 mark:
It was a release.
However, when Pimentel argued that it was a transfer based on the “official documents reporting the movement of the funds,” Angara, after consulting with economic managers, including Pangandaman, said at the 5:48:47 to 5:48:11 mark:
They’re saying it’s an error in their use of the word transfer. It should be release.About two months into her term, Dutere wrote a letter to Pangandaman dated Aug. 22, 2022, requesting a total of P403.46 million for various purposes, including P250 million for confidential funds.
About two months into her term, Dutere wrote a letter to Pangandaman dated Aug. 22, 2022, requesting a total of P403.46 million for various purposes, including P250 million for confidential funds.
According to the list of Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) published on the DBM website, the department only released a total of P221.424 million.
The OVP’s summary of appropriations for the last quarter of 2022, one of the annual financial reports posted on its website, indicates that this amount includes P125 million allocated for confidential funds and P96.424 million designated for financial assistance and subsidy.
The funds are authorized under SARO-BMB-C-22-0012004 issued on Dec. 13, 2022 per approval of the OP on Nov. 28, 2022.
Sonza’s post has garnered over 1,000 reactions, 50 comments and 176 shares as of press time. (VG)