Lawmakers dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s accusations that the House leadership is collaborating with the New People’s Army (NPA), calling the claims untrue and a distraction tactic.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel argued that the House has supported former President Rodrigo Duterte’s counter-insurgency efforts, including the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), not the NPA.
Vice President Duterte suggested that the Makabayan bloc influenced House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to remove confidential funds from her office’s 2024 budget out of fear and to support the NPA.
Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre countered that the Makabayan bloc’s comments were public and did not influence the decision, which was collectively made in the best interest of the country.
The House reallocated the OVP’s proposed P500 million confidential funds, along with other civilian agencies’ funds, to secure the West Philippine Sea. At the same time, concerns were raised about the OVP’s spending of confidential funds in previous years.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 12, 2024
