Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
The Vinzons Policy Center, comprising seasoned professionals across various domains, strongly condemns the regrettable conduct displayed by the Vice-President of the Philippines in response to Congressional hearings regarding her Office of the Vice-President and her concurrent role as Secretary of the Department of Education. We are deeply embarrassed by her juvenile reaction.
The Vice-President has taken to publicly castigating a Senator and a Representative who have, rightfully, raised questions concerning the validity, legitimacy, legality, and propriety of her unwavering insistence on Confidential Funds (CIFs) amounting to a staggering sum, all while refusing to provide any justifiable explanations. Notably, these funds have been granted to her offices, despite the fact that they are not national security agencies.
It is disheartening to note that the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) has already received an allocation of 220 million in CIFs this year, a disbursement that has been dubiously transferred from the Office of the President. This raises serious concerns about the conduct of the highest officials in the land, who seem to be collaborating in the reckless spending of the hard-earned money of the people. This is done with an utter disregard for scrutiny, transparency, or oversight by accountable institutions.
The Vice-President’s petulant behavior, akin to that of a spoiled child, is an affront to her position as the second-highest official in the country. Her actions jeopardize the meticulously crafted traditional system of accountability and transparency governing the use of CIFs. The Senate, the House of Representatives, and other governmental oversight bodies must persevere in their demand for an explanation and justification for these exorbitant funds, which are slated to be expended without any semblance of transparency or accountability.
Such actions are morally reprehensible, particularly in light of the severe deficiencies in the budget allocated to the Department of Education, which desperately requires funding for classrooms and appropriate teaching and learning materials. The OVP and the Department of Education should never be transformed into surveillance and intelligence-gathering entities at the whims of a Vice-President who appears to view these offices as her personal fiefdoms, rather than platforms for serving the best interests of the people.
It is our fervent hope that the resounding voice of condemnation emanating from the citizens of this nation will awaken the Vice-President to the gravity of her actions and compel her to rein in her excessive behavior. The people deserve better, and we must strive to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability that form the bedrock of our democracy. — Vinzons Policy Center
