Wamil Praised for Standing Firm on VP's Confidential Fund Observations Amid Marcos' Queries

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro lauded state auditor Roderick Wamil for standing his ground and maintaining his observations on the use of confidential funds (CF) by the Office of the Vice President, despite facing tough questions. Luistro made the remarks during an online press briefing on Thursday when asked about the prosecution panel for Vice President Sara Duterte. Wamil had previously submitted an audit report stating that the Vice President’s office disbursed approximately P4 million in confidential funds in 2022 for purposes such as "administrative support" and "information gathering," which were allegedly outside the intended scope of CF. The report also noted that the VP's office did not maintain detailed records of how the confidential funds were utilized. Confidential funds in the Philippines are allocated to government agencies for specific purposes like national security and intelligence gathering, without requiring prior congressional approval. However, their utilization has often been a subject of transparency concerns, with persistent worries about misuse and political appropriation. Luistro commended Wamil for "upholding his duty as a public servant to pursue the truth and ensure the proper management of public funds." When asked about the possibility of the issue leading to the impeachment of the Vice President, Luistro stated, "I would rather not comment on that at this point," but indicated that Congress would continue to monitor the situation. The issue underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in Philippine politics. Public interest in how taxpayer money is spent is high, and the proper management of public funds is crucial for maintaining trust in the government.