Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

House panel to end probe into VP Sara Duterte’s confidential funds as impeachment looms

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<p>The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, is set to conclude its investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).</p><p>Committee chair Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said panel members will meet on Monday to finalize the probe on confidential funds, ahead of a possible impeachment process where the Vice President is expected to address the same allegations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/8/wrap-the-impeachment-bids-vs-vp-sara-duterte-so-far-2037">WRAP: The impeachment bids vs VP Sara Duterte so far</a></div><p>“Bukas (Monday) po, mga miyembro na lamang ang mag-uusap-usap. Kami po ay magra-wrap up na (confidential funds) at isa-summarize kung ano ang mga nangyari,” Chua said in a radio interview. </p><p>Duterte is currently facing 2 impeachment complaints before the House of Representatives, both in connection with her confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education.</p><p>Chua said the committee has already fulfilled its mandate of investigating the confidential funds in aid of legislation, with several measures ready for submission this coming week.</p><p>He clarified that the impeachment process is the proper venue to address the complaints and allegations on confidential funds against the Vice President.</p><p>“Nevertheless, ito naman kasi saka-sakaling tutuloy ang impeachment process ay hahayaan na namin na sa impeachment na sagutin ang mga katanungan sa ating Bise Presidente,” he said.</p><p>Chua said that his committee’s findings, now on record, would be made available to the House Committee on Justice in the event they are needed for deliberation on the impeachment complaints.</p><p>After seven hearings, the committee uncovered alleged irregularities in the handling of P500 million in confidential funds by the OVP, spent between late 2022 and the third quarter of 2023, and P112.5 million allocated to the DepEd in 2023.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/2/coa-ovp-spent-p375-m-in-confidential-expenses-in-2023-2018">COA: OVP spent P375 million in ‘confidential expenses’ in 2023</a></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/8doie_X7yAk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Other significant findings of the committee include falsified acknowledgment receipts allegedly signed by fictitious individuals such as “Mary Grace Piattos” who were listed as recipients of confidential funds. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) found no records of these names, suggesting they may be fictitious. </p><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/l0BvwKfeRF0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>It was also revealed that the OVP spent P16 million to rent 34 safe houses for just 11 days in late 2022, with one safe house costing nearly P91,000 per day.</p><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/W7DIS_lj1h4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/18/vp-duterte-defends-spending-p16-m-on-safe-houses-1624">VP Duterte defends spending P16-M on safe houses, says &#x27;not surprising&#x27; for govt to spend millions on projects</a></div><p>The OVP further claimed to have allocated P15 million for youth leadership summits supposedly conducted with the Philippine Army. </p><p>However, military officials denied receiving funds, stating the events were funded by the military and local government units, raising suspicions of misrepresentation fabrication of activities to justify fund utilization. </p>

<p>Committee chair Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said panel members will meet on Monday to finalize the probe on confidential funds, ahead of a possible impeachment process where the Vice President is expected to address the same allegations.</p>

Committee chair Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said panel members will meet on Monday to finalize the probe on confidential funds, ahead of a possible impeachment process where the Vice President is expected to address the same allegations.

House panel to end probe into VP Sara Duterte's confidential funds as impeachment looms

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House panel to end probe into VP Sara Duterte's confidential funds as impeachment looms

ABS-CBN News

Published December 09, 2024 07:56 AM PHT

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sara duterte

impeachment

mary grace piattos

confidential funds

house of representatives

joel chua

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