■ THE YELLOWPINKS' EXPECTED REACTION: TORRE’S PR STUNT & SC RULING ON INDAY IMPEACHMENT

The SC ruled that the impeachment petition filed against ISD is unconstitutional.

I’ve been consistent with my position that I’m pro-impeachment trial bloodbath. However, the Constitution is the bedrock of justice. Hindi po emotion natin ang basis ng justice.

If may opinion naman tayong iba, they are still valid; but these opinions do not repeal the ruling and the wisdom of the honorable judges.

In human psychology, normal lang naman po to feel defeated, sad, frustrated, and angry kapag natatalo sa argumento at pinaglalaban sa buhay. These emotions and reactions by the liberals and their followers are normal process to keep the ego intact. Iyong emotional reactions ng ibang mga anti-Sara to the point that they even went overboard by smearing the SC is actually predictable.

However, their incapacity to control their emotional reactions could make them irrational like iyong mga nakikita nating reactions ng ilan sa kanila ngayon na walang nuance. That’s why it’s called a reaction, kasi walang explanation. Walang discussion. Walang policy position.

In fact, De Lima said sorry for demeaning the wisdom of the Court. Ito iyong sinasabi ko. De Lima was too reactive emotionally that she failed to guard her logic and rational limits. Sadly, many of the followers of De Lima believed in her, only for De Lima to say sorry in the end.

So paano na iyong mga nag-agree kay de Lima noong una? Nagpadala rin sa blind fanaticism against those they hate? Will they call out de Lima for telling a legal lie that smear the high Court? Of course, hindi nila iyan i-callout kahit umamin ng kamalian despite claiming that they are into honest, transparent, and accountable people. Kasi nga, its personality politics for some of them. It’s showbiz style. It’s all about emotional reaction. The might probably react with, eh kayong DDS, have you called out Dutae?

Hah? Iyong mga sinabihan niyong tanga, blind followers, kulto, at mga panatiko ang mga DDS, but you expect them to call them out? Kayo ang nag-set ng standard ng moralidad, kaya walk the talk. Huwag ipasa sa iba ang moral standards na hindi niyo pala kayang gawin.

Meanwhile, many of liberals-turned-Marcos supporters have enabled the PR stunt of Torre amidst calamities. Nawala na iyong mga comments nila like:

“prioritization dapat”
“napaka-insensitive”
“nasaan ang Pangulo”

Hindi ko marinig iyong mga tinig nila noong panahon ni Digong sa pag-criticize ng mga kakulangan ngayon. I thought they were critical of Digong because of their love for the country, accountability, and transparency na sila naman ang nag-claim. It turned out that it’s the personalities pala that they hate (or love). Parang showbiz. Hindi nga nila mabatikos iyong sarili nilang sinusuportahan na personality.

Pero Ayun pala! They only said those words noon because they just hate Duterte, not because they believe in the wisdom of what they were saying. Kasi, if they believe in what they are saying, it should be applicable to everybody—hindi lang iyong hate nilang personality (kasi sila naman ang nagke-claim na sila lang ang tama, mababait, at righteous—so dapat consistent).

Kita naman ngayon. They now minimize calling out the government because it no longer fits their personality politics na mahilig magpadala sa PR stunt, and even applaud the PR stunt even if it contradicts their previous sloganeerings.

Remember the slogan “never again?” Ngayon, they are enabling the government they used to hate, and the political spectacle they are doing. Now they removed their mask. Their “never again” warcry was just “sunod sa uso” pala. Iyong mga mahilig sumunod sa uso alam niyo na, sila iyong totoong madaling mauto. Imagine the shift in their tone? Tapos after 30 years, magiging pro-Duterte ulit kapag nauso like iyong pagkawala ng Never Again ngayon? History repeats itself ba?

You don’t even see these people discuss their policy positions, they’d just do their usual personality showbiz politics that they crave over consistency and genuine love for the country, IMHO. They just react, they don’t discuss.

■ Election 2025: The Blessing and Curse of Being an Imee Marcos

Senator Imee R. Marcos will become the superstar of this current political landscape if she plays her cards well.

She’s caught in the freaking middle—which is a position that could offer her with two options: be neutral or be an arbiter. Being neutral is NOT an option now. If she doesn’t want to give up either side, then the only option left is to be an arbiter and bridge the divide.

Unfortunately, the “UniTeam” is long gone. She is now in a dilemma of saving her brother and saving her political alliance with a popular figure (Duterte). It seems like becoming an arbiter is no longer an option. She’s left with no choice but to become a useless personality in the middle.

However, Senator Imee made her “middleman” dilemma an asset by adding some elements. While being in the middle, she navigated vertically. If this is a triangle, she’s at the pinnacle. She’s still at the middle, but she made sure to be above the clashing sides; so that, she could oversee and manage the situation.

In this current political landscape, the plot thickens.

It appears to me that Imee is no longer doing this to bridge the irreparable divide, but to expose an elusive hiding character who is manipulating the show—lurking somewhere within this triangle.

Imee, positioning herself in the POV of being at the pinnacle—center, and above the center—might have seen the wider perspective until she hypothetically said: “Huli ka! Checkmate!” It’s indeed the best position ever. It’s a position that can catch the movement of the hiding manipulator.

Imee has always been at the crossfire, the middle of the horizontal plane, which is a ground of either neutrality or pacifism. The middle position of the horizontal plane is both a blessing and a curse, but she probably has figured out that there is actually a vertical plane in the middle.

If Imee would be able to expose who is manipulating this political shithole now and become instrumental in filing charges against the accomplices while helping in bringing PRRD home, then she’ll become the R0ckstar. I mean, she’s doing better than anyone from the PDP Laban, and there’s no better person to do this than her because she’s destined to this position she created herself.

Blood is thicker than water—YES. Pero sino bang boses ang lumalaban ngayon who could match the brilliance of Imee? WALA. Even PRRDs closest confidants like Bong Go and Bato cannot match what Imee is doing now.

Bong Go and Bato are still under the power and influence of Chiz who has no established loyalty to Duterte. For Imee, she has the advantage of being the sister of the President and a cousin to the Speaker. If BBM and Martin would rebuke her for doing this, then this is not a good image to the family. Lahat sila at mga angkan nila madadamay sa family baggage.

That’s why Imee will become a rockstar if she plays her cards well.

Kaya Senator Imee, ITODO MO NA!

■ SPENDING MILLIONS/BILLIONS PARA MABAWI ANG 125 MILLION? WHAT'S THE POINT?

Editorial by Edz del Castillo

Isa sa mga rason bakit daw i-impeach si Sara ay dahil daw sa accountability. Isa sa mga ginamit nilang rason ay ang kanyang confidential fund. Isa raw iyang betrayal of public trust. Pero hihimayin natin ang mga pangyayari.

Kapag sinabi nating spending more millions or billions, ilagay natin ito sa konteksto na ilang taon nang tinutuligsa ang Confidential Fund ni Inday Sara. Nauna siyang atakihin sa media. Base sa kasaysayan ng PR o publicity management sa Pilipinas, ang mga sunod-sunod na atake sa isang pulitiko ay maaaring isang negative PR campaign, at may operator sa likod nito. Sa ganitong paraan palang, milyong-milyon din na kaperahan ang gagastusin para makapag-launch ng national PR media campaign.

Isa rin ang tila walang hanggan na congressional inquiry kung saan gumagasto rin ang gobyerno ng milyon-milyon para sa mga congressional operations na ito. Hindi lang iyan, kasama na rin dito ang mga related inquiries sa mga kaalyado ng mga Duterte na siyang laging laman sa mga legislative inquiries. Ang mga mas importanteng batas ay tila napabayaan na. Ginawa nang kangaroo court ang Kamara.

As expected, tinuloy din nila ang impeachment ng Bise Presidente. Sa kasaysayan ng mga impeachment sa Pilipinas, lagi itong nababahiran ng mga issues ng anomalya at alleged bribery para sa mga boto ng mga Senador or Kongresista gaya sa kaso ng ousted SC justice na si Corona. Ang mga allegations na ito ay hindi nabigyan ng karampatang imbestigasyon para malaman ang totoo. Nabaon na lang ito ng panahon, at mananatiling case unclosed ang mga issues ng bribery at corruption sa mga impeachment cases.

Ganito rin ang impeachment ni Inday Sara. Nababahiran din ito ng mga ugong-ugong na may mga panunuhol ng mga kritiko. Bagamat walang ebidensiyang maipakita ang mga kritiko na may panunuhol (dahil wala namang aamin diyan kung tatanungin), hindi maiwasang ganito ang kanilang iniisip dahil sa pagbaha ng mga unprogrammed funds, mga bilyong-bilyong budget insertion, at ang mga blanko sa bicameral report ng GAA. Ito ang mga hinahalaang source ng pondo para mapatalsik ang Bise Presidente. Pero, teka. Bilyon-bilyon po ang mga ito. Ang issue niyo po ay 125 Million na Confidential Fund. Hindi ba dapat i-liquidate muna ang mga bilyones na ito habang nad-dedemand ng transparency sa 125 million ni Inday Sara? Bakit gagasto pa ng bilyon-bilyon kung pwede namang i-challenge ito sa Supreme Court sapagkat iyan naman ang tamang proseso at hindi ang impeachment? Hindi mababawi ang 125 Million sa impeachment, tapos gumasto pa ng milyones o bilyones. What's the point of using this 125 million issue? Para ba ito sa bansa o sa pansariling interes ng iisang tao?

Para mas maintindihan natin ang mga rason sa impeachment case na ito, basahin natin ang mga nasa ibaba.

🟥 Ang CF ni Inday ay ginasto ng 11 days

Ito ang tamang proseso. Kailangan i-allocate ang CF ni Inday in 11 days dahil matatapos na ang fiscal year. Kung hindi niya ito gagastusin, magiging red-flag ito sa "underutilization." In short, KAILANGANG GASTUSIN ANG CF IN 11 DAYS para hindi ma-tag sa underutilization dahil naka-allocate iyan na gastusin bago matapos ang fiscal year. Sa gobyerno, ang underutilization of fund ay isang red flag.

🟥 Ang CF ni Inday ay dumaraan din sa audit process.

Dumaan sa guidelines ng Joint Circular 2015-01 ang proseso ng auditing ng CF ni Inday. Ayun sa guideline na iyan, ang CF ay matters of national security. Hindi ito pwedeng basta-basta isapubliko dahil masisira ang intel operations ng gobyerno kapag ito ay sinapubliko. Hindi lang si Inday ang sakop nito, SAKOP NG GUIDELINE NA ITO ANG LAHAT NG AHENSIYA ng gobyerno na may CF. Sumusunod lamang si Inday sa guidelines.

🟥 Ang COA ang may trabaho na i-audit ang CF base sa kanilang constitutional mandate at mga provisions ng joint circular.

Kung nabasa niyo ang Joint Circular, maraming mga operational guidelines doon since Marcos Sr time ang ni-cite at applicable pa rin hanggang ngayon na pinagbabawal ang public discussion sa actual content ng CF habang hindi pa ito declassified at ongoing pa ang mga intel operations. Hindi sakop sa trabaho ng kongreso na oversight function ang i-audit ang CF dahil abuse iyan ng power nila. Ang trabaho nila ay gumawa ng batas, hindi mag-audit.

🟥125 million ang ini-issue nila na may anomalya; pero hanggang ngayon, WALANG MAPATUNAYAN na wrongdoing o actual conviction.

Allegedly, may bayad daw na 150 million ang kada kongresista para pumirma sa impeachment case. Hindi natin ito ma-verify dahil wala naman tayong access sa kanila, pero ito ang kumakalat sa social media. Kamakailang, nag-deny naman ang mga kongresista na hindi raw ito totoo.

Hindi rin maiiwasang mag-speculate na may bayarang nangyayari kasi billions of unprogrammed fund ang pinasa sa GAA at may blank pages pa sa bicameral report para sa GAA na hindi ma-explain kung sino ang nag-insert sa final version ng GAA. Ito ang alleged source ng bribery sa mga kongresista.

In view of public trust, may responsibility ang HoR na i-explain at iliquidate ang mga unprogrammed funds, AKAP, AICS, TUPAD, etc kung saan ito napunta. Kasi, binabanatan nila si Inday ng betrayal of public trust. Hindi ba dapat sila ang maging modelo dahil sila naman ang nagpu-push ng public trust narrative na iyan?

Kung sabagay, sila naman ang nagdedemand ng accountability kay Inday. Dapat maging modelo sila. They should practice what they preach. Kaya i-liquidate ang mga pera sa HoR para matanggal ang mga allegation na 150 million ang bribery fund per signature.

So what's the point of spending weeks of legislative inquiry ng 125 million para panagutin si Sara kung mismong mas malaki pa ang alleged 150 million na bayad sa mga signature per congressman? Pero sabihin na nating walang bribery, billions of unliquidated funds are still way more than the 125 Million. Hindi ba dapat ito ang priority dahil billions na ang ginagasta ng gobyerno sa mga ganitong operations pero wala man lang silang paki?

Sino dito ang tunay ng nag-betray ng public trust? Si Inday na sinasagot ang mga issue ng CF sa tamang forum sa Supreme Court? Or iyong mga nababayaran ang integridad?

What's the point of demanding accountability for 125M if there are questionable spending of billions, directly or indirectly, to operate the impeachment of Sara?

What's the point?

■ Inday Sara Tinanggal sa NSC: Insecure ba ang admin?

The lack of opposing views in a policy debate about national security is an abuse of power. Abuse of power is the true national security threat.

PBBM's order to remove the Dutertes (PRD and ISD) in the National Security Council is not illegal per se. PBBM can do that on his power.

However, breaking a 90-year-old tradition and manipulating the structure that this council has developed in the last 9 decades may raise eyebrowns as to its urgency and necessity.

While having more members is more helpful in offering representations of the different sectors of the society that are more knowledgeable of the security threats in the sectors apart from the wisdom of former prsidents, this admin is downsizing the council; and I couldn't see any valid justification of this decision aside from personality politics and the lack of management skills (of the President) to manage rift and conflicts.

The admin supporters argue that this order is justified apparently due to VPISD's pronouncement of allegedly hiring an assassin if she gets assassinated too (VPISD claimed that she also got death threats) as a form of retaliation to the admin.

But then again, the pronouncement was clear that such act can only be executed if she gets killed by some powers in the admin. Why would the admin feel threatened about that? Are they going to kill Sara to feel threatened of the retaliation?

They couldn't understand the wordplay there. They probably have understood it, but they may have wanted to turn it into sound bites to divert the more important issues that they can not address.

If conditional threats are the basis of the removal of VPISD, then the President should also be removed from the council due to similar allegations of death threats to Inday. Inday said that she also had death threats, apparently pointing the admin as an alleged culprit.

If the above is the basis of the removal, then this is a sign of poor management skills, IMO. It's a leadership lapse mess that they created, and now they are panicking that they groomed a monster who is now fighting back.

This could be a manifestation that the admin may have felt threatened of the unwavering influence of the Dutertes in national politics because the Duterte brand of leadership is backed up by organic movements. Compared to admin, many online pages and ground supporters have funding support from the PCO and other governemnt agencies. It's funded by the people's money.

In the end, corruption is the greatest national security threat, yet this admin seemed not to care about the threats of unprogrammed billions of funds, money transfers, and unliquidated spending (no OR) of the Congress—apart from the threats of terrorism, inflation, and drugs.

VPISD is not a national security threat. The real threat here is the incompetence of the admin to clean the true mess that threatens our nation—and these are the smugglers, drugs, terrorists, and issues of corruption in his own yard that he failed to address.

The Dutertes being removed from the national security council under this admin will be painted in history as a silent political meltdown from an insecure leader who cannot publicly confront the person involved; and the most convenient escape is to remove them from the circle, thereby disregarding the importance of policy debates from different POVs in a council session.

The lack of opposing position in a policy debate about national security is an abuse of power. Abuse of power is the true national security threat here.

■ What is the Significance of Quiboloy's Voluntary Surrender to the AFP?

The voluntary surrender of Ptr Apollo Quiboloy to the AFP (not PNP) is a significant chapter of this political game. After more than 2 weeks of searching for Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound, the PNP did not succeed.

As a political observer, I think that the chess pieces are moving. The PNP under the Marcos Jr admin made a strategy that was funded by public funds—we, taxpayers. They made a bad precedence in serving a warrant. The necessity of sending 5,000 state forces trespassing a private property for more than 2 weeks is hard to justify. This is akin to State abuse. This will become a long legal battle in between the State and the KOJC congreagation whose rights were transgressed. Torre and his flock of 5,000 State forces failed to compartmentalize Quiboloy as an individual and the KOJC members as a congregation. The voluntary surrender of Quiboloy to the AFP is a significant move in this battle between the Marcos Jr admin who has the resources of the State through taxpayers' money versus Quiboloy.

The voluntary surrender of Quiboloy exposed the weakness of Torre and the PNP despite their show of force. His voluntary surrender to the AFP showed the failure of the intelligence unit of the PNP. The execution of the operation that lasted more than 2 weeks revelead the inefficiency of the PNP. Quiboloy's voluntary surrender to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) sent a message to the PNP that their intelligence unit is weak. Interestingly, Quiboloy's surrender to the Intelligence Unit of the AFP is just the tip of the ice berg. I have an idea, but it's not my story to tell. This surrender is actually the beginning of a long battle.

🟥 A sunlight of strategy on the part of the opposition faction led by the Dutertes.

The State's resources and energy have been focused lately on Quiboloy, but the huge motivation for this boils down to his connection with the Dutertes.

Philippine politics has always been like this. The media will play big time in this war of information and perspectives. This is the reason why major players of the Marcos Jr admin targeted SMNI, threatening their franchise. They knew that SMNI is the media arm of the Dutertes, and it does not require a huge PR fund from the Dutertes to do that.

Meanwhile, this admin would need to secure billions of money to get the support of the traditional media in the Philippines as PR partners, political parrots, and propagandists of the State. From anti-Marcos propagandists, it's amusing how Marcos Jr easily turned these media to his favor.

It would be reasonable to speculate that money has always been the name of the game in most political maneuvers in every political era, but it's very entertaining to see how these former anti-Marcos media networks swallowed their 30+ years of decaying anti-Marcos vomitus easily. I'd surmise that their 30+ years of being an anti-Marcos was also due to money, and not by principle. Now, they are releasing anti-Duterte feces. Will this anti-Duterte media of today eat their own anti-Duterte stool like what they did to their 30+ years of anti-Marcos vomitus?

🟥 SMNI, Quiboloy, and the Dutertes' soft power

Dismantling the influence of SMNI was one of the first moves of the major anti-Duterte players of the Marcos Jr admin, and I'm pretty sure that the Duterte group is aware. SMNI has been a significant soft power of the Dutertes for offerring an alternative POV of the news not framed by the traditional media in the Philippines.

With the dissolution of the relevance of the Yellow and Pink colors in our current political landscape, the most reasonable inference here is that the Philippine politics will be soon dominated by either the Marcos Family or the Duterte Family—depending on who will reign supreme in this battlefield of political wars. SMNI's presence would greatly help the Dutertes in this political war, but SMNI has been targeted by the State (e.g. the move for the revocation of its franchise).

The Marcos Kingdom has an advantage, though—due to their incumbent powers, resources, and pivot to Uncle Sam. But, the Duterte opposition is surely aware of these.

I want to be honest in my opinion. The Duterte faction is "dehado" in terms of resources and political influence because the Congress is composed mainly of pro-admin (including the political butterflies) and is being led by a Romualdez. I've seen how the Marcos Kingdom consolidated all their traditional enemies and their traditional allies to fight the Dutertes in full force. Sobrang daming bilyones ang kailangan to orchestrate a scheme of this national scale. Pero huwag naman sana nilang gamitin iyong tax money for this while they are hyperfocused on scrutinizing Sara Duterte, despite that fact that other agencies of the government are also riddled with questionable billions of spending.

On the other hand, the fact that I'm seeing the key anti-Duterte players of this admin spending gargantuan State resources to defeat the Dutertes is a validation that the Dutertes are formidable foes.

Meanwhile, I've also seen how the Dutertes subtly moved the chess pieces, but it's not my story to tell.

The surrender of Quiboloy is I think a significant move in this game of political chess. The success of the opposition group led by the Dutertes, including their allies, would basically be dependent on grassroot support. If the grassroots or the people would side the Dutertes, then the people would end the Marcos Kingdom through election—that, if Marcos Jr would not change the Constitution to extend his power.

Quiboloy's voluntary surrender to the Intelligence Unit of the AFP is a double-edged political sword. To whose benefit? That, I don't want to comment. As a political observer, again, it's not my story to tell; though I have an idea.

Have you seen how the different pieces of the chess game are moving?

• SMNI franchise revocation
• People's initiative
• KOJC condemnation
• Unprogrammed funds
• Inday Sara as the hyperfocus of media attacks
• The obvious gameplay in the transfer of the Confidential Funds to Inday a few days before the end of the fiscal year
• POGO
• Alice Guo


We are witnessing a historic political battlefield in the Philippines between a Marcos and a Duterte, and this will change the trajectory of our country's political history significantly.

■ What are the Rules Possibly Violated in the OVP Budget Briefing for 2025?

During the OVP budget hearing, Rep Stella Quimbo was caught by the live audio-video recording saying that they should "stick to the plan." However, the Lower House did not provide additional information about that "plan."

Since the House of Representatives' Committee of Appropriation members did not disclose what was the hidden plan, it's a controversy that left the public hanging with no idea what were the plans. The public could only decode these "plans" based on the questions they threw at the OVP budget hearing. Here are some of the scenarios that apparently stuck to the plan, but not on the rules.

🟥 (1) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Information related to the Confidential Fund in aid of POLITICKING?



🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬? —Some members of the panel had a microscopic focus on the Confidential Fund that was transferred from the OP Contingent Fund to the OVP in 2022. There were no categorical questions that were asked about the proposed budget for 2025. Apparently, without the disclosure of the plans, we could only allege that the Congress planned to abuse their power for the purpose of grilling Inday Sara outside the rules; hence, apparently abusing their powers. Disregarding the rules, especially that they are lawmakers, is tantamount to abuse of their discretion unless proven otherwise.

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕𝟖, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 (𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 Paragraph 𝟑𝟒-𝐝) —According to this rule: Classified matter shall be released for public consumption only upon the consent of the Department Head or his authorized representative. However, in instances where there is a demand or need for releasing classified information, extreme care and caution must be exercised to analyze in detail the contents of the classified matter before release. Normally, all information are released through Public Information Officers. Public Information Officers should be assisted in the analysis of classified information by the Security Officer.

First, based on the rule above, Congress apparently chose to stick to their plan and ignored the rules. Inday Sara is the head of the OVP. Did the Congressmen, who released information related to the confidential fund, ask the consent of Inday Sara as the head of the OVP? Why did the Congress release the information related to the Confidential Fund in the hearing despite such rule? They did not even give Inday heads-up about the possession of those information which violated the rule of consent.

Second, why did the Congress release to the public the contents of the CoA findings that are still ongoing audit scrutiny? The rule said that when there is a need to release such information, extreme care and caution must be exercised, and it should be released through Public Information Officers. Are France Castro and Arlene Brosas part of the PIO to do that job? The power of inquiry of the Congress is not absolute. It's operated under guidelines to prevent such abuse.

🟥 (2) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Information in aid of Witch-Hunting?



🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲? —Some members of the Committee like Arlene Brosas and France Castro discussed some information related to the Confidential Fund publicly. However, there is a rule that prohibits the disclosure of matters related to confidential information. Why would the subject Congressmen deliberately disrespect that rule? Was it their plan to insinuate a wrongdoing with Inday without giving her the constitutional due process to explain? Why did the presiding officer, Rep Stella Quimbo, allow this to happen despite preaching the gospel of "follow the rule?"

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕𝟖, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 (𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 𝐍𝐨. 32) —This rule provides that: Indiscreet discussions or conversation involving classified matter shall not be engaged in within the presence of or with unauthorized persons.

Why would Arlene Brosas and France Castro openly discuss matters of the Confidential Fund indiscreetly? Worse, it was discussed in a congressional hearing with national coverage. The rule said that indiscreet discussion of confidential matters should not be engaged within the presence of unauthorized persons. These congressmen discussed these matters publicly while being broadcast online with international access.

Their questions to Inday Sara would put the resource person under a malicious spotlight of public scrutiny without due process of law. Since Sara Duterte is prohibited by existing guidelines to disclose these information, some members of the House of Representatives apparently violated the rule—unless proven otherwise—to frame Inday Sara in a bad light—that she could not answer such questions. Since Inday Sara is prohibited by these guidelines to disclose these information, it followed that she was also not allowed to answer the questions. What the members did to Inday Sara could be seen from the angle of malice.

🟥 (3) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Classified matter outside department in aid of trial-by-publicity?



🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥-𝐛𝐲-𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲? —Some members of the Committee also cross-examined Inday Sara as if they were in a court of law. They even had side comments insinuating and framing Inday Sara that she couldn't explain the Confidential Fund under a Congressional hearing that was broadcast publicly. Such insinuations appeared malicious in the eyes of the critical public opinion, knowing too well that Sara is technically barred to answer the questions due to guideline-based prohibitions.

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕𝟖, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 (𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 Paragraph 34-a) —This rule provides that: No person in the Government shall convey orally, visually or by written communication any classified matter outside his own Department unless such disclosure has been processed and cleared by the Department Head or his authorized representative.

Who authorized the release of such information? Inday Sara is the head of the Department who handled the confidential fund in question. Was Sara given notice for its release? I heard a news that Sara wrote a letter to CoA not to release the certain information to the HoR. That letter of Sara was based on the rule. It has legal basis, since she was given the accountability to authorize the disclosure of such information.

🟥 (4) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Classified matter without prior clearance from the Office of the President

🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫-𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠? —Representative Luistro made a press release saying that "separation of powers" is not absolute. It has excemptions. I agree with that press release. However, although the separation of powers is not absolute, it also comes with the principle that the power of scrutiny of the Congress is also not absolute. Their behavior at the 2025 OVP budget hearing is not excempted from public opinion and scrutiny. As elected officials of their districts, their apparent abuse of powers are also subject to public criticisms.

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟎, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝟐 —This rule provides that: Such top secret, secret, confidential and restricted matters shall not be disclosed or released to unauthorized persons or the general public and shall not be published or caused to be published without prior clearance from the Office of the President.

Did some of the members of the Committee follow this rule? I also would like to comment on the press release of Luistro in her "separation of powers is not absolute" line by citing some provisions of the whereas clause of the LOI NO. 1420.

• Whereas, the Constitutional right of access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions is not absolute;
• Whereas, such disclosures have been prejudicial to the general welfare, public interest, or national security.

These are my guideline-based commentaries and observations of what transpired in the 2025 budget briefing of the Office of the Vice President headed by Sara Duterte-Carpio. Thank you for reading.

~EDZ

■ Ang Anggulo ng "Pamumulitika" sa 2025 OVP Budget Briefing

Sa nakaraang budget hearing ng OVP (Office of the Vice President), hindi na niya (Sara Duterte-Carpio) ginamit ang kanyang pagkakataon na gamitin ang kanyang "privilege" na sumagot para sa kanyang 2025 briefing.

Ibig sabihin, binibigyan niya ng kapangyarihan ang Kongreso na mag-decide sa kanyang budget—kasama na riyan iyong pagbawas o pagtanggal nila sa kanyang panukalang budget.

However, kahit hindi nagbibigay ng sagot si Inday Sara base sa gustong marinig ng nagtatanong, pina-reschedule ang session sa ibang araw kahit alam naman na nila ang isasagot niya.

Kung mapapansin natin, walang tanong ang mga Kongresista tungkol sa 2025 budget. Karamihan ng mga tanong nila ay tungkol sa 2022 transfer ng confidential fund.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nag-request ng rule si Inday Sara sa hearing, dahil ang mga katanungan ng mga Kongresista ay hindi na nila sakop gaya ng ng legality ng Confidential Fund at kung paano ito na-utilize.

Related: How did Sara Duterte Spend Her 125-Million Confidential Fund?

Ang audit at discussion ng Confidential Fund ay may sariling guidelines. Hindi Kongreso ang gumagawa ng post-utilization audit dahil trabaho iyan ng CoA. Ganun din ang pag-determine kung legal o hindi, dahil trabaho iyan ng Korte.

🟥 ANG PANG-AABUSO NG KAPANGYARIHAN NG IBANG MIYEMBRO NG KAMARA

Ang Congress ang may "power of the purse." I'm pretty sure hindi satisfied ang Congress sa interrogation, and it's so easy for them not to give Inday a budget.

A ZERO budget or budget realignment for the OVP is what they were threatening, but Inday didn't care about defending her budget anymore due to politicking.

Ang tanong, bakit pa mag-reschedule ang Congress ng ibang budget briefing kung alam naman na nila na hindi sasagot si Inday? Ginagamit ba nila ito para mag-grandstanding sa Kongreso at abusuhin ang kanilang kapangyarihan?

Matatandaang ang tanong ni France Castro (na convicted criminal for child abuse ng RTC) ay hindi naaayon sa power nila na taga-gawa ng batas. Nag-bigay ng judgment si Castro noong sinabi niyang "illegal" ang transfer ng Confidential Funds mula Office of the President papunta ng OVP. Trabaho ng Korte ang pagbibigay ng verdict, at maliwanag na inabuso ni Castro ang kanyang position bilang Kongresista by encroaching into the boundaries of the power of the Judiciary using the resources of the government in that hearing. Ang masaklap nito, gusto niyang sagutin ni Sara ang mga tanong niya na hindi angkop at may pamumulitika. Nasabi ko na sa taas na ang tanong ni Castro about sa legality ay trabaho ng Korte.

🟥 "STICK TO THE PLAN" - ANO ANG PLINANO NG KONGRESO PARA KAY INDAY NA HINDI ALAM NG TAUMBAYAN?

Kayá ba may extension ang budget briefing dahil hindi nagtagumpay ang plano nila? Matatandaang sinabi ni Rep. Stella Quimbo ang katagang "Stick to the Plan." Ang tanong, ano ang "plan" ni Quimbo at ang kanyang nga enablers?

In the end, gusto mo man si Inday or hindi, she unmasked the real intention of some members of the Congress.

She also proved a point na may pamumulitikang nangyari masked as "inquiry" kahit they denied it. The fact na pare-pareho lang ang sagot niya yet some of the members of the Congress ay patuloy pa rin sa pagtatanong (at alam naman pala nila ang sagot), this goes to show that they really want to "stick to the plan."

Inday Sara also called out Quimbo sa pagsasabi niya ng "stick to the plan." Kahit naka-record sa video na sinabi ito ni Quimbo, nag-deny pa rin siya na hindi niya sinabi ito. Nagsisinungaling si Quimbo sa bahaging ito, considering siya ang presiding officer at nagsasabi na "follow the order." Mismong si Quimbo ay questionable ang kanyang moralidad sa kanyang pagsisinungaling para lang sa kanilang "plano." Freudian slip kaya iyan?

Sa Psychology, ang Freudian slip ay described as "an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings." Ibig sabihin, hindi mo sinasadyang sabihin ang isang bagay kasi ayaw mong mabukíng. Pero dahil iyon talaga ang nakatagong intention mo at plano, lumalabas siya ng kusa na hindi mo sinasadya. Iyan ang theory ng Freudian slip.

Nag-reschedule pa sila ng bagong briefing. Dahil ba hindi umubra ang orihinal nilang "stick to the plan?" Bakit may pa-briefing ulit in another day if there's no point of giving her a budget anymore? Nag-change sila ba sila ng plan para gawing circus ang Kongreso at sirain ang dignidad nito? Sabi nga nila, ang Kongreso ay isang Crocodile Farm (regardless if it was in the term of BS Aquino III, Duterte, or Marcos Jr), dahil ang kanilang MOOE ay walang scrutiny. Lustay lang ng lustay pero hindi sila required magbigay ng resibo. Sarili nilang pondo, hindi nila ma-justify sa taumbayan using liquidation through receipts.