House recommends filing of cases against VP Duterte in relation to supposed misuse of confidential funds
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House recommends filing of cases against VP Duterte in relation to supposed misuse of confidential funds
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Office of The Vice President in Mandaluyong City on December 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Office of The Vice President in Mandaluyong City on December 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA (UPDATED) — The House of Representatives has recommended the filing of cases against Vice President Sara Duterte and others over alleged technical malversation, perjury, bribery and plunder in relation to the supposed misuse of confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
MANILA (UPDATED) — The House of Representatives has recommended the filing of cases against Vice President Sara Duterte and others over alleged technical malversation, perjury, bribery and plunder in relation to the supposed misuse of confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
During plenary session on Tuesday, the lower chamber adopted the committee report of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which conducted an inquiry into the issue.
During plenary session on Tuesday, the lower chamber adopted the committee report of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which conducted an inquiry into the issue.
Based on the committee report, the recommendation to file a plunder case against Duterte and at least 10 others stemmed from allegations of “amassing at least P50 million in public funds while the confidential funds misused amounts to P612.5 million, and the wheel of conspiracy in Arroyo v. People (2016) has been established during the committee hearings.
Based on the committee report, the recommendation to file a plunder case against Duterte and at least 10 others stemmed from allegations of “amassing at least P50 million in public funds while the confidential funds misused amounts to P612.5 million, and the wheel of conspiracy in Arroyo v. People (2016) has been established during the committee hearings.
he technical malversation allegation stemmed from the supposed use of confidential funds “for purposes other than confidential activities”, while the perjury allegation stemmed from a notarized certification stating that “the funds were used for necessary and legal purposes in relation to the agency’s confidential activities, signed by the Head of Agency and SDO”. The recommendation to file a bribery case against Duterte, meanwhile, stemmed from the testimony of witnesses in the hearing who claimed that white envelopes containing money, other than salaries, were offered to certain DepEd officials.
he technical malversation allegation stemmed from the supposed use of confidential funds “for purposes other than confidential activities”, while the perjury allegation stemmed from a notarized certification stating that “the funds were used for necessary and legal purposes in relation to the agency’s confidential activities, signed by the Head of Agency and SDO”. The recommendation to file a bribery case against Duterte, meanwhile, stemmed from the testimony of witnesses in the hearing who claimed that white envelopes containing money, other than salaries, were offered to certain DepEd officials.
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“The OVP spent P125 million in 11 days, averaging P11.36 million per day in 2022 alone covering the period from December 21 to 31, 2022 and was issued COA disallowance notice… This is the only and first vice president to request excessive amount of confidential funds, in comparison with past Vice Presidents,” Committee Chairperson Rep. Joel Chua said.
“The OVP spent P125 million in 11 days, averaging P11.36 million per day in 2022 alone covering the period from December 21 to 31, 2022 and was issued COA disallowance notice… This is the only and first vice president to request excessive amount of confidential funds, in comparison with past Vice Presidents,” Committee Chairperson Rep. Joel Chua said.
“The committee made the following recommendation… To file cases against officials for the following: technical malversation, falsification and use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery and corruption, plunder, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution,” he added.
“The committee made the following recommendation… To file cases against officials for the following: technical malversation, falsification and use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery and corruption, plunder, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution,” he added.
From December 2022 to September 2023, the OVP utilized confidential funds totaling P500 million, while from February to September 2023, the DepEd used confidential funds amounting to P112.5 million.
From December 2022 to September 2023, the OVP utilized confidential funds totaling P500 million, while from February to September 2023, the DepEd used confidential funds amounting to P112.5 million.
The committee said the confidential funds of the OVP and the DepEd were disbursed “contrary to laws, rules, and regulations”. It added that the OVP does not have a national security mandate and used confidential funds on programs, activities and projects not in the Physical and Financial Plan. It also found “unverified spurious acknowledgment receipts”, which the committee said “put in doubt the veracity and existence of the recipients and actual disbursements of the confidential funds”. Among the supposed recipients is a certain “Mary Grace Piattos”.
The committee said the confidential funds of the OVP and the DepEd were disbursed “contrary to laws, rules, and regulations”. It added that the OVP does not have a national security mandate and used confidential funds on programs, activities and projects not in the Physical and Financial Plan. It also found “unverified spurious acknowledgment receipts”, which the committee said “put in doubt the veracity and existence of the recipients and actual disbursements of the confidential funds”. Among the supposed recipients is a certain “Mary Grace Piattos”.
“The submission of spurious and questionable acknowledgment receipts was established, dubious or fabricated with fictitious, repeated names, similar handwritings, and pre-dated and ante-dated acknowledgment receipts,” House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chairperson Representative Joel Chua explained.
“The submission of spurious and questionable acknowledgment receipts was established, dubious or fabricated with fictitious, repeated names, similar handwritings, and pre-dated and ante-dated acknowledgment receipts,” House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chairperson Representative Joel Chua explained.
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“We received a certification from the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority), claiming that no such name exists, the names that were mentioned in the acknowledgment receipts. The OVP does not have a national security mandate and use confidential funds or programs, activities and projects not in the PFP,” he added.
“We received a certification from the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority), claiming that no such name exists, the names that were mentioned in the acknowledgment receipts. The OVP does not have a national security mandate and use confidential funds or programs, activities and projects not in the PFP,” he added.
The Committee also found that Special Disbursing Officers from the OVP and the DepEd disbursed confidential funds to security officers, “who are neither accountable officers nor have any fidelity bonding”.
The Committee also found that Special Disbursing Officers from the OVP and the DepEd disbursed confidential funds to security officers, “who are neither accountable officers nor have any fidelity bonding”.
Duterte previously denied misusing confidential funds.
Duterte previously denied misusing confidential funds.
To prevent misuse and obstruction in the handling of confidential funds, the House panel filed measures seeking to regulate the allocation and utilization of confidential and intelligence funds as well as the special disbursing officers. It also recommended to amend the law on secrecy of bank deposits to allow COA and Congress access with safeguards of accounts under investigation.
To prevent misuse and obstruction in the handling of confidential funds, the House panel filed measures seeking to regulate the allocation and utilization of confidential and intelligence funds as well as the special disbursing officers. It also recommended to amend the law on secrecy of bank deposits to allow COA and Congress access with safeguards of accounts under investigation.
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