Senator Risa Hontiveros utilized a famous meme from the movie “Four Sisters and a Wedding” in response to the latest statements of Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte regarding the controversial confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Vice President Sara Duterte lashed out at opposition leaders who criticized her proposal for the confidential fund allocation, a sum amounting to P650 million. Duterte particularly singled out Senator Risa Hontiveros and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, who expressed their condemnation for the initiative.
In a statement, Duterte said, “Senator Risa Hontiveros, while she amuses the nation with her flair for drama, could only wish the 2022 OVP [confidential fund] was accessed illegally. It’s a shame they still cannot produce any proof to support their dirty imagination.” The vice president further accused the opposition of causing “indignity” to Congress and the Senate, urging people not to give them serious attention. She thanked her supporters including Rep. Stella Quimbo, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., among others, for backing the OVP’s request for confidential funds.
In a bid to address the allegations with a touch of humor and criticism, Senator Hontiveros responded by using a meme with a line from the iconic movie ‘Four Sisters and a Wedding,’ saying, “Pero bakit parang kasalanan ko?” which translates to “But why does it seem like it’s my fault?” This move could be seen as an attempt to lighten the atmosphere while standing firm on her position regarding the controversial funds.
Hontiveros has previously expressed serious concerns over the enormous amount of confidential funds proposed for the offices overseen by Duterte, pointing out that it exceeded the combined secret funds of the nation’s top security agencies. She challenged the rationale behind such a substantial confidential fund, igniting a hot debate over its necessity and legality.
It is worth noting that the confidential funds requested for 2024 faced heavy opposition, with minority leaders from both chambers of Congress debating its necessity. Rep. France Castro mentioned that the OVP under the administration of former Vice President Leni Robredo did not have confidential funds listed among its budget line items. Castro noted that the fund suddenly came into existence and was utilized after Duterte took office in June 2022.