📷Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares
KATUMBAS ng 115,726 kilo ng bigas sa presyong P64.08/ kilo ang P73 milyong “nilustay” ng Office of the Vice President noong 2022 kung pagbabatayan ang datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Inihayag ito ni Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares kasabay ng mga panawagan para panagutin si Vice President Sara Duterte sa hindi tamang paggasta ng confidential funds, base sa ulat ng Commission on Audit (COA).
Ang natuklasan aniya ng COA ay malinaw na indikasyon na nilustay ang P73 milyong pondo na sana’y inilaan sa batayang serbisyong panlipunan, kaya’t may kagyat na pangangailangan para sa ‘transparency and accountability.”
“The PHP 73 million wasted could have been used to provide substantial support for public health, education, and other social services. For instance, this amount could have provided millions of kilos of rice for hungry families, or funded thousands of scholarships for underprivileged youth,” sabi ni Colmenares.
Binigyan diin ni Colmenares ang kahalagahan ng pagpapanagot sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang paraan, gaya ng impeachment, ngunit ang magpapasya pa rin ay ang nagkakaisa at malawak na aksyon ng mga mamamayan.
“Impeachment is a constitutional process that seeks to hold high-ranking officials accountable for betrayal of public trust and other offenses. However, the decisive factor remains the united and widespread action of the citizenry,” aniya.
Iginiit niya na ang Bayan Muna ay may track record na nagsusulong na panagutin ang mga tiwaling opisyal at naninindigan laban sa pagwaldas sa confidential funds.
“As part of the Makabayan bloc, we have been vocal critics of the unregulated use of confidential funds by public officials, including those by Vice President Duterte,” sabi ni Colmenares.
Hinamon ng Bayan Muna chairperson si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. na totohanin ang pagnanais para sa isang malinis na pamahalaan at huwag payagan na maipit ang bayan sa bangayan sa interes ng mga elitista.
“The people are angry and hungry, and they deserve a government that spends public funds to uplift their lives rather than enrich a few,” ani Colmenares.
“We must not let this issue fade into the background. The misuse of public funds is a betrayal of the people’s trust, and it is imperative that we demand accountability and justice. The Filipino people deserve no less.” (ROSE NOVENARIO)