KUNG ang layunin umano ng pagbabanta at pananakot ay upang ibalik ng Kamara de Representantes ang inalis nitong confidential fund sa panukalang 2024 national budget ay hindi umano ito mangyayari.

Ito ng sinabi ni House Deputy Majority Leader at Quezon City 3rd District Rep. Franz Pumaren matapos ang mga pahayag na inilabas ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte matapos na alisan ng Kamara ng confidential funds ang Office of the Vice President (OVP) at Department of Education (DepEd) na parehong pinamumunuan ng kanyang anak na si Vice President Sara Duterte.

“As the good former president should know, we, as lawmakers duly elected by our respective constituents to represent their interests, do not respond well to threats and intimidation. If his allegations have bases, then he should go to the proper channels and file charges,” ani Pumaren na dating Majority Leader ng QC City Council.

“But to insinuate bodily harm or even the murder of a member of the House of Representatives, this has gone too far. We urge the former president to be cautious and reasonable in his criticisms.

There are more peaceful and effective ways to send his message through,” dagdag pa nito.

Sa kanyang pagdepensa kay VP Duterte, pinalutang ng dating Pangulo na mayroong nakatagong ‘pork barrel’ ang Kamara, na matagal nang ipinagbawal ng Korte Suprema.

Sinabi ni dating Pangulong Duterte na dapat silipin ng Commission on Audit (COA) kung papaano ginamit ang pondo ng Mababang Kapulungan.

Sinabi rin ni dating Pangulong Duterte na ang confidential funds ng vice president ay gagamitin para sa pagbabalik ng ROTC at para labanan ang mga komunistang recruiter sa mga paaralan,

“Pero, ang una mong target sa intelligence fund mo, kayo, ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin.”

Ikinalungkot ni Pumaren ang mga pangyayari lalo at nagdulot lamang aniya ng pagkakawatak-watak at poot ang mga pahayag ng dating punong ehekutibo at pagkasira sa House of Representatives, na nagbigay ng buong suporta sa legislative agenda noong kaniyang termino.

“We implore the good former president to seek the path of peaceful resolution instead of engaging in making threats and intimidation. We should unite, not divide. We are not going to be good examples to the people if we give in to these bickerings,” ani Pumaren.

“The decision to realign the vice president’s confidential funds is nothing personal, as several other agencies also faced the same redistribution. If the former president thinks this is wrong, our doors are always open in the House of Representatives for dialogues,” sabi pa nito.

Nagdesisyon ng Kamara na ilipat ang P1.23 bilyon confidential funds mula sa mga civilian agency at ilipat ito sa mga ahensya na direktang nagbibigay ng seguridad sa West Philippine Sea.

Kabilang sa tinanggalan ng confidential fund ang Office of the Vice President (P500 milyon) at Department of Education (P150 milyon).

Kabilang sa pinaglipatan ng confidential funds ang National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (P300 milyon); National Security Council (P100 milyon); Philippine Coast Guard (P200 milyon); Department of Transportation (P351 milyon); Government Assistance to Students and Teachers ng DepEd (P150 milyon); Cybercrime Prevention Investigation and Coordination Program ng DICT (P25 milyon); operasyon ng Department of Foreign Affairs (P30 milyon); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ MOOE (P30 milyon); at MOOE ng Office of the Ombudsman(P50.4 milyon).