‘Publicity stunt’: Salo blasts Roque’s remark on House’s secret funds

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s claims that the House of Representatives has confidential funds (CF) are baseless and merely a publicity stunt, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo said. Salo, in a statement late Monday night, questioned Roque’s intentions, saying that the former spokesman might be just missing the old days when he was the “center of media attention.” “Roque’s inflammatory statements appear to be more of a publicity stunt. Perhaps he wants to relish his days when he was still the presidential spokesperson and the center of media attention,” Salo claimed. “(I encourage the public to) focus on government transparency and accountability, rather than being swayed by baseless allegations,” he added. However, in a message to INQUIRER.net, Roque clarified that what he brought up is a public interest issue, claiming that based on his time in Congress, lawmakers were not required to liquidate all their budgetary requirements, supposedly making this worse than the confidential expenditures. “What I said was when I was a member of the 17th Congress, all Congressmen were not required to liquidate all their budgetary requirements. All that was required was to sign a certification. This is worse than confidential funds since there is no liquidation required,” Roque explained. “Moreover, all budgetary allotments of the House were by plenary vote in the 16th Congress. Voted yun by the house as to be treated as confidential. This is a public interest issue and not a publicity stunt,” he added. Salo’s statements against Roque came after the latter streamed a video on his YouTube page last October 12, where the former presidential spokesperson stated that it appears the House — which removed the CF request of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under the proposed 2024 national budget — has its secret fund allocations. Roque was referring to the P1.6 billion line item under confidential, intelligence, and extraordinary expenses. “Akala ko ba ang confidential funds ay tatanggalin? Pero ang katotohanan aba’y tinanggalan lamang ng confidential funds ng Kamara de Representantes si VP at Education Secretary Sara Duterte.  Ano po ang pruweba na marami pa pala ang tanggapan ng gobyerno ang may confidential fund at hindi tinanggalan?” he asked. (I thought they would remove the confidential funds. But the truth is that the House only removed the confidential funds of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.  What is the proof Read more at: inquirer

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