By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
The chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is looking at potential grounds for impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust, amid its ongoing probe into her office’s alleged fund misuse.
In a news release on Monday, committee chair and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said his panel’s probe, which was initially conducted “in aid of legislation,” has revealed serious questions about Duterte’s management of public funds, particularly concerning the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P125 million in confidential funds spent in just 11 days in December 2022.
“Na-shock po ang lahat sa P125 million na nagastos in 11 days,” Chua said.
Chua noted that the Commission on Audit (COA) issued a Notice of Disallowance (ND) for P73.28 million of the OVP’s P125 million confidential funds in 2022.
The COA directed Duterte and other OVP officials to settle the disallowed amount due to alleged regulatory violations.
Chua said the Vice President could face impeachment for graft and corruption, citing issues such as the alleged unaccounted P15 million in confidential funds within the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as Secretary and the OVP’s alleged overpriced rental payments for safe houses.
Based on the committee’s findings, the DepEd, under Duterte’s leadership, had falsely claimed to have used its confidential funds for a youth training program, though military officers testified that “the Philippine Army and local government units” covered most of the expenses.
“Pare-parehas po tayong nagtatanong kung saan napunta ‘yung P15 million. May certification, sine-certify pero inamin naman ng Army na hindi sa kanila napunta, walang dinownload. Ngayon ang tanong—saan napunta?” Chua said.
The committee hearing also discovered that over P16 million in confidential funds were reportedly used to rent 34 safe houses between Dec. 21 and 31, 2022.
Records show the OVP made payments ranging from P250,000 to P1 million per property owner between Dec. 21 and 31, 2022. These rentals, detailed in the OVP’s liquidation report to the COA, were part of a rapid P125 million confidential funds expenditure over the 11-day period.
“Walang detalye. Hindi po natin alam kung totoo nga pong nagamit sa rentals,” Chua said.
Chua said the spending has acknowledgment receipts that were unsigned, illegible, missing names, or only included signatures and lacked supporting documents like lease contracts, thus raising questions about the transactions.
Chua further suggested that Duterte’s actions could constitute betrayal of public trust, particularly given the entrusted funds.
“Ito pong ginagawa niya hindi pa ba betrayal of public trust? Pinagkatiwalaan ka ng pondo tapos ‘di ka sumusunod, ‘di ba? Hindi mo ginamit ‘yung pondo para sa ayos,” he said.
Chua, however, clarified that the committee’s goal is not to pursue impeachment but rather address potential legislative reforms.
“Right from the very beginning, siya (Duterte) lang naman nagbabanggit,” Chua said. “Eh ako naman po ginagawa ko lamang ang trabaho ko dahil ito ay ni-refer sa aking committee.”
While Chua refrained from concluding that impeachment was certain, he noted that the committee’s findings could indeed be used as grounds.
“Kung ganito ang pagbabasehan natin, pwedeng may grounds. But siyempre ayaw po natin mag-conclude pa,” he said, stressing that Duterte still has the opportunity to address the allegations publicly.
