By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Four officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) were cited for contempt and ordered to be detained by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday for repeatedly defying summonses to attend an inquiry into the alleged mishandling of government funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.
The four are OVP Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Committee Chair Lemuel Ortonio, Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, former Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda, and SDO Edward Fajarda, who transferred to the OVP after Duterte resigned as DepEd Secretary in July.
The committee had issued subpoenas to the officials after multiple invitations to appear.
House Committee Vice Chair and Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop moved to detain the officials at the House premises until the inquiry concludes and the committee report is submitted for plenary approval.
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, head of the committee, called the excuses of the four OVP officials cited for contempt “unacceptable.”
In letters to the committee, Ortonio, Acosta, and the Fajardas stated they were unable to attend due to OVP activities in Caraga, Panay Island, and Negros Island requiring their personal presence, supported by their official travel orders.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez noted the committee’s patience with the OVP officials.
“Let’s not forget, Mr. Chair, that these are public officials. It is their duty to appear and explain how the funds in question were spent,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, four other OVP officials attended Monday’s hearing: Administrative and Financial Services Director Rosalynne Sanchez, Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey, Budget Division Chief Edelyn Rabago, and Chief Administrative Officer Kelvin Gerome Teñido.
The confidential funds ‘saga’ continues
The inquiry centers on the handling of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd.
Allegations include misuse of P500 million in confidential funds by the OVP and an additional P125 million by DepEd when Duterte was Education Secretary.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged nearly half of the total, disallowing P73 million spent by the OVP within 11 days in the last quarter of 2022.
The committee reviewed documents from the COA, Department of Budget and Management, DepEd, and other agencies, with resource persons providing insights into fund usage.
However, Chua noted serious concerns remain, particularly over OVP’s use of funds for medical and food aid, with questionable acknowledgment receipts raising further red flags.
The OVP has maintained that its explanations are in the documents submitted to COA.
Chua, however, argued that this documentation is insufficient, especially when the documents themselves are questioned.
“There are questions that the documents themselves can’t answer. This is why we need the presence of these officers. Sila lang po ang makakasagot sa mga katanungan natin,” Chua stressed. (With report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)
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