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DAVAO CITY , Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte came to his daughter’s defense yesterday amid controversies on her request for confidential funds.

In his Gikan sa Masa para sa Masa TV program yesterday, Duterte insinuated that Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind the attacks on Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.

The former president defended his daughter’s proposed P500-million confidential fund, which Congress did not approve.

He said he had read the rationale of the Office of the Vice President on how the funds would be spent and saw nothing wrong with it.

“She will be spending it on strengthening the PMT (preparatory military training) in high school to instill a love for the country among the youth,” Duterte said.

The money, he said, would be used for conducting seminars, field trips and other activities that would ignite nationalism among the youth.

In jest, he advised Sara to be more candid on the real reason how she would use the money – “to rid Congress of communists.”

Duterte said his daughter this early is perceived as a good candidate for president in the 2028 general elections.

“But I am saying now that Inday (Sara), as far as I am concerned, should not run for president,” Duterte said.

“Tama na ’yang vice president, maganda na iyan. Ibigay na niya ’yan sa iba (Being vice president is good enough, she should give way to others),” Duterte said, noting that there are others interested in the highest position of the land, like Romualdez.

Duterte said Romualdez has been giving out funds to congressmen as the Speaker is poised to run for president in the next elections.

He said he would demand an audit of the funds disbursed by Romualdez.

Duterte urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a formal audit on the pork barrel funds and the amounts of money given out by Romualdez.

“This Romualdez, Speaker… has been feeding congressmen with cash, but I say, he should be audited,” Duterte said in Filipino. “Because the Speaker is poised to run for president. Well and good.”

Duterte stressed that Romualdez has been his friend even before Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president.

“Seemed you’ve said you want to be (president). I said OK. I was not thinking of my daughter, she’s just perceived to be a good candidate,” Duterte said, addressing Romualdez.

Duterte said that if an audit is not conducted and if the COA refuses to do so, he would ask the people to demand Congress to liquidate the funds that Romualdez gave to congressmen.

He said that Makabayan party-list Rep. France Castro and the other “communists” and those belonging to the left should question how they spend the money and not just the confidential funds.

Duterte also accused Romualdez of “wallowing” in pork barrel.

“Let’s liquidate and you will find out that it is Congress (that is the biggest spender). They do not have a limit on their pork barrel, especially Romualdez. He is wallowing (in funds).”

No House CIF

An appointee of Romualdez defended the House of Representatives against the remarks of Duterte.

“As per COA report released on Oct. 2, the House has no disallowances, no notice of suspension and no notice of charge. It means we passed the COA audit,” House secretary-general Reginald Velasco said yesterday.

He clarified that the House has no confidential and intelligence funds.

“All line items in our budget are subject to regular accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Our books are always open to the Commission on Audit,” he said, agreeing with Duterte’s statement that “government expenditures should be transparent and fully auditable.” –  Diana Lhyd Suelto, Delon