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Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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VP Sara Duterte

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173003876063620240925-sara-duterte-presscon-JC0095.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability said on Sunday it is eyeing recommending a plunder case against Vice President Sara Duterte over P112.5 million in confidential fund expenses.</p><p>In a statement, House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio &quot;Dong&quot; Gonzales Jr. said the panel may consider the move if Duterte &quot;fails to account for P112.5 million in confidential funds which were encashed as cash advances&quot; by the Department of Education in 2023. </p><p>The Vice President was DepEd Secretary from July 2022 until July 2023. </p><p>The Pampanga 3rd District Representative reiterated the need for transparency on the utilization of public funds. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/18/vp-duterte-says-marcos-does-not-know-how-to-be-president-kasalanan-ko-ba-yun-1132" id="isPasted">VP Duterte says Marcos &#x27;does not know how to be president&#x27; </a> </div><p>“Kung ang Bise Presidente, bilang pinuno ng DepEd noong panahong iyon, ay hindi makapagbigay ng malinaw at sapat na paliwanag kung paano ginamit ang perang ito, tungkulin namin na ituloy ang kinakailangang mga legal na hakbang, kabilang ang kasong plunder, upang maprotektahan ang interes ng publiko,&quot; Gonzales said. </p><p>“Pera ito ng taumbayan, at kailangan nating tiyakin na ito ay nagamit ng tama,” he added. </p><p>In a previous House hearing, Rep. Gonzales questioned why the funds were withdrawn through three different checks each worth P37.5 million and were made in the first three quarters of 2023. </p><p>Rep. Gonzales pointed out that the checks were issued to DepEd Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda. Fajarda was among six OVP officers and personnel subpoenaed by the House panel after repeatedly skipping its probe. </p><p>Rep. Gonzales raised concerns over the supposed discrepancies in documentation, since the disbursement vouchers were labeled as Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) instead of confidential funds. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/19/duterte-urged-to-answer-questions-under-oath-over-alleged-fund-misuse-2018" id="isPasted">Duterte urged to answer questions over alleged fund misuse </a> </div><p>He said such &quot;mislabeling could indicate a lack of transparency and potential misuse.&quot; </p><p>Gonzales said the P112.5 million funds being scrutinized surpass the plunder threshold which is set at P50 million. He reiterated that plunder is a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment. </p><p>&quot;Kung hindi maipaliwanag ang paggamit ng P112.5 million, we may have no choice but to consider recommending the filing of a plunder case,&quot; he added. </p><p>Last October 17, DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla confirmed the issuance and encashment of the checks to Fajarda. </p><p>Sevilla said her role was limited to processing the release of the funds. She explained she has no part in the utilization and liquidation of the confidential funds. </p><p>&quot;For the confidential funds, talagang sumusunod kami sa joint circular. Pero kami po sa finance, hindi kasama sa utilization o liquidation ng confidential funds,&quot; Sevilla said. </p><p>&quot;Wala pong record na makikita sa accounting or budget on the utilization or liquidation,&quot; she added. </p><p>The funds in question were part of the P150 million allocated to DepEd in 2023 for programs on preventing abuse in schools, efforts anti-extremism and addressing insurgency. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/22/sandro-marcos-mental-clarity-seems-to-be-eluding-sara-duterte-1048" id="isPasted">Sandro Marcos: &#x27;Mental clarity seems to be eluding&#x27; Sara Duterte </a> </div><p>&quot;Although a sitting Vice President is an impeachable official, legal and constitutional experts have previously clarified that, unlike the President, the Vice President does not enjoy immunity from suit, leaving them open to criminal charges while in office,&quot; the statement further read. </p><p>The House panel has been looking into the alleged irregularities in the Office of the Vice President&#x27;s utilization of confidential funds. </p><p>Lawmakers expect Fajarda and other OVP officers to attend the probe, citing that their testimony will help determine how the funds were used. </p><p>The OVP has yet to issue a statement or response on the development. </p><p>Vice President Duterte has earlier denied misuse of the agency&#x27;s confidential funds.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GDTcy4aLzjk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability said on Sunday it is eyeing recommending a plunder case against Vice President Sara Duterte over P112.5 million in confidential fund expenses.</p>

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability said on Sunday it is eyeing recommending a plunder case against Vice President Sara Duterte over P112.5 million in confidential fund expenses.

House panel may recommend plunder case vs. VP Duterte over P112.5-M confidential funds

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House panel may recommend plunder case vs. VP Duterte over P112.5-M confidential funds

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 27, 2024 10:24 PM PHT

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