MANILA - Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday defended spending P16 million in 11 days for the rental of safe houses saying it was "not surprising" for government agencies to spend millions, or even billions of pesos for programs and projects.

This was after lawmakers in the House of Representatives asked how the Office of the Vice President was allegedly able to spend P16 million in confidential funds on the rental of safe houses in just 11 days.

Congressmen earlier commented that the rental cost for the safe houses was much higher than the rent for a condominium unit in a high-end building or luxury resort.

"Alam niyo, hindi nakapagtataka sa gobyerno na gumastos ng millions araw-araw. Kami noon sa DepEd noon, pumipirma kami billions in 1 day para maglabas ng pera. So hindi nakapagtataka ang kahit na P10 million in a day. Pirma lang iyan, lalabas na ang pera. Ibabayad na iyan kung saan iyan ibabayad. And then babalik na iyong documents," Duterte told the media.

"Ganoon talaga ang gobyerno. Gumagastos siya every day para sa mga projects niya. And sometimes, it's not millions. Billions ang pinipirmahan ng mga opisina ng gobyerno para sa projects," she added.

Duterte said the OVP "fully cooperated and participated, and submitted to the Commission on Audit with regard to the confidential funds".

She also claimed that lawmakers seem to be doing their own audit.

"Kaya ako hindi sumasagot doon sa kanila. Sila na iyong nagau-audit. Hindi naman iyan tinanong ng Commission on Audit. Ang hiningi lang ng Commission on Audit, ano iyong documents para sa mga expenditures. So sinagot namin iyon. So sinubmit namin iyon. In fact, nakikita nila iyon kasi sinubpoena nila lahat ng documents," Duterte said.

She also claimed that lawmakers wanted to impeach her.

"Kahit iyong COA na mismo ang nagsabi kung ano iyong trabaho niya, hindi nila tinatanggap na sagot. Kasi bakit ba? Kasi nga sa simula, sinabi ko, gusto nila mag-impeachment. Hindi nila magawa kasi wala silang kaso for impeachment. So ang ginagawa nila dyan, nagfi-fishing sila nang nagfi-fishing, hanap sila nang hanap," she added.

Duterte meanwhile took a jab at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, saying the chief executive had "five impeachable offenses" But when asked to elaborate, she did not directly answer what are the offenses she noted.

"Si BBM, sabihin ko sa inyo, may listahan ako ng limang bagay na impeachable offense niya. Pero sa tingin niyo papasa dyan sa House? Of course, hindi," she said.

DUTERTE DENIES MORE ALLEGATIONS

Another official from the Department of Education (DepEd) alleged that he had received envelopes with cash inside during the stint of Duterte as Education secretary.

In a House panel, Atty. Resty Osias, DepEd Director IV and former Bids and Awards Committee IV said he had been given envelopes with cash ranging from P12,000 to P15,000 from April to September 2023.

Earlier, DepEd Usec. Gloria Mercado also accused Duterte of giving DepEd undersecretaries and assistant secretaries money in envelopes roughly worth P50,000 monthly.

"Iyong envelope na iyan. Kaya ko sinasabi kanina, antayin natin iyong next hearing. Kasi hindi pa siya enough. Gusto nila kasing palabasin sa mga tao, iyong envelope na iyan, galing iyan sa confidential funds. Iyon iyong gusto nilang i-portray sa public. Para iyong perception ng tao: 'Ay hindi talaga ginamit para sa ano,'"

Duterte also belied allegations that the DepEd, under then her administration, used certifications from military officials, without the knowledge of the soldiers, to justify the disbursement of P15 million of its confidential funds for paying informants in 2023.

This was supposedly based on the OVP’s documentary submissions to the COA that stated that such expense was for the Youth Leadership Summit (YLS).

"Hindi ginamit ang confidential funds sa AFP. Hindi din siya ginamit sa YLS. Ginamit siya supporting information doon sa mga areas kung saan may nakuha na reports na at risk ang mga bata," Duterte said.

"Walang binigay na CF sa AFP, walang binigay na CF sa YLS. Iyong YLS lang ang tinanong, at sinabi namin ito iyong areas at risk. Sabi ng AFP, okay gawan namin ng paraan based on information we gathered," she added.

Meantime, the vice president vowed to stay with the six OVP officials, as the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has ordered the issuance of subpoenas and lookout bulletin against them for repeatedly failing to attend its hearing into the alleged irregularities in the OVP’s utilization of confidential funds.

"Sabi ko, 'Kayo na bahala kung ano gustong gawin niyo dyan.' Pero dito sa Office of the Vice President, sinasabihan ko iyong mga tao na nakapangalan, 'Kung ano iyong gusto mong gawin, iyon ang susuportahan ko. Kung ayaw mo um-attend, susuportahan kita. Kung gusto mo um-attend, susuportahan kita.' Hindi ko pipilitin kung anong gusto mong gawin," Duterte said.

She also said she was willing to be detained with the officials of the OVP.

"Basta sinabihan ko sila, 'I will be with you every step step of the way.' Sinabihan ko rin sila, 'Kung ang desisyon mo ay magpa-detain, sasamahan kita doon sa loob ng detention. Walang problema iyan sa akin," she added.  

On the OVP budget cut, Duterte said they already have "options" if ever this gets finalized in the 2025 national budget.

"But rest assured, patuloy ang trabaho ng Office of the Vice President, kung ano man iyong kaya namin base sa kung ano iyong budget ibibigay namin iyon," she said.