Jamaine Punzalan

Vice-President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on Nov. 25, 2024, while the hearing on alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education is suspended. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173257654699320241125-duterte-sara-hor-hearing-MT-1.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Vice-President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on Nov. 25, 2024, while the hearing on alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education is suspended. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA – A lawmaker on Tuesday grilled a lawyer for supposedly notarizing documents for the confidential funds of the Office of Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre pointed out that lawyer Rhoscel Abella notarized documents without the physical presence of the OVP’s director for admin and financial services Rosalynne Sanchez and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey. Acidre said a notarized document contains the phrase “subscribed and sworn to before me”, which should mean the person who wanted to notarize the document was present. “They did not appear before me for the notarization of these documents,” said Abella. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/25/ovp-deped-disbursing-officers-admit-releasing-funds-on-sara-duterte-s-orders-0014">OVP, DepEd disbursing officers admit releasing funds on Sara Duterte’s orders</a></div>The lawmaker said signatories for other documents related to confidential funds might not have been required to be present before these were notarized. “I think that is a fair assumption because you already admitted to the act of notarizing a document without their personal appearance,” she said. Abella said she was never able to meet Vice President Sara Duterte. This was when Acidre noted again that the lawyer notarized a document dated Oct. 4, 2023 in which Duterte was a signatory. This was supposedly for DepEd’s third quarter 2023 confidential funds amounting to P37.5 million, when Duterte still headed the agency.  “Siguro sa madalas nila kinukuha na abugado si Atty. Abella, hindi na kailangan ng identity document but you can see the passport. ‘Subscribed and sworn to before me,’” he said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/25/-wala-kaming-kakampi-dito-vp-duterte-feuds-with-lawmakers-who-jailed-her-top-aide-1422">&#x27;Wala kaming kakampi dito&#x27;: VP Duterte feuds with lawmakers who detained her top aide</a></div>The lawyer defended herself, saying Duterte was only “attesting” or was only a witness for the document for then-Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda. “Those were already inscribed by the time these were given to me by Mr. Edward Fajarda. Ang pagkakaalam ko kasi, si Mr. Edward Fajarda ang nagsu-subscribe sa akin because he is the one under oath,” she said. Abella admitted she has a contract of service under the OVP after applying through her schoolmate and friend Zuleika Lopez, the OVP’s chief of staff. Abella said she notarized documents for DepEd in a private capacity, because these were not covered by her contract with the OVP. Asked if she gets paid for her service in notarizing DepEd documents, Abella said she chose not to. “For this, no. I did not,” she said. “I was approached and as a notary public, I notarized the documents.” “Under the notarial rules, we are allowed not to charge. I did not charge anymore, I chose to,” she said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/25/another-ovp-official-rushed-to-hospital-from-house-panel-probe-1901">Another OVP official rushed to hospital from House panel probe</a></div>Acidre told the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that it seemed that Abella was only signing documents for confidential funds, as her name did not appear in other files secured by lawmakers. “Siguro naman hindi lang siya ang abugado ng Office of the Vice President, hindi lang siya ang abugado ng Department of Education pero kapansin-pansin na despite apparently… kung nagawa niyang magnotaryo despite the lack of formalities, despite the lack of personal appearance ng ating mga resource persons dito… hindi ako magtataka,” he said. The lawyer’s connections to other people involved in the fund issue should be scrutinized further, according to the lawmaker.“She must have a better appreciation of the documents she is notarizing,” he said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/25/house-panel-extends-ovp-chief-of-staff-s-detention-2212">House panel extends OVP chief of staff&#x27;s detention</a></div>Duterte has denied allegations of corruption and fund misuse, saying that the House investigation was part of political persecution.

A lawmaker on Tuesday grilled a lawyer for supposedly notarizing documents for the confidential funds of the Office of Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

A lawmaker on Tuesday grilled a lawyer for supposedly notarizing documents for the confidential funds of the Office of Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Lawmaker grills lawyer who notarized OVP, DepEd documents on confidential funds

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Lawmaker grills lawyer who notarized OVP, DepEd documents on confidential funds

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 26, 2024 07:23 AM PHT

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