Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The Office of the Ombudsman. Quezon City. February 19, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17504023266011750402324557.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>The Office of the Ombudsman. Quezon City. February 19, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The Ombudsman has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte and other officials to respond to the plunder, technical malversation, bribery, and corruption cases that the House of Representatives recommended filed over her alleged misuse of confidential funds, a document showed.  In a report, the respondents included her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, former officials at the Department of Education Sunshine Fajarda, Edward Fajarda, Annalyn Sevilla, and Nolasco Mempin, as well as Col. Raymund Lachica, the commander of her security group.Ombudsman Samuel Martires confirmed the reported document to ABS-CBN News.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/13/ex-cebu-gov-garcia-fined-for-defying-ombudsman-suspension-order-1359">Gwen Garcia fined for defying Ombudsman suspension order </a></div>The Ombudsman said Duterte and other respondents must file their counter-affidavit, together with affidavits of her witnesses, and other supporting documents within 10 days of the receipt of the order.“Failure to file Counter-Affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as waiver of respondents&#x27; right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” the Ombudsman said.The case will then be submitted for resolution “on the basis of the evidence presented by the parties.”The Office of the ombudsman may require parties to submit to clarificatory questioning.The Ombudsman noted that “no motion to dismiss or bill of particulars shall be entertained.”<div>‘HOUSE DID NOT INITIATE THE COMPLAINT’ </div>In a briefing, House spokesperson Princess Abante said the lower chamber did not initiate any complaints against Duterte at the Office of the Ombudsman.She added she has yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman&#x27;s document.“What I can confirm to you is that the plenary adopted the report of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on June 10,” Abante told reporters.She said a copy of the report was sent to the Ombudsman but neither the House nor the commitee filed a formal complaint.She said she is not sure why the House was identified as a complainant.“Per [Rep.] Joel Chua, wala siyang finile na complaint (he did not file any complaint),” she said, referring to the panel chair. The House earlier this month adopted the committee report of its committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which conducted an inquiry into the alleged misuse of confidential funds.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/10/house-recommends-filing-of-cases-against-vp-sara-over-supposed-misuse-of-confidential-funds-2024">House recommends filing of cases against VP Duterte in relation to supposed misuse of confidential funds </a></div>The panel recommended filing a plunder case against Duterte and others due to allegations of “amassing at least P50 million in public funds while the confidential funds misused amounts to P612.5 million.”The Office of the Vice President has yet to comment on the issue but has said scrutiny of her office is politically motivated and is meant to discredit her ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.

The Ombudsman said Duterte and other respondents must file their counter-affidavit, together with affidavits of her witnesses, and other supporting documents within 10 days of the receipt of the order.

The Ombudsman said Duterte and other respondents must file their counter-affidavit, together with affidavits of her witnesses, and other supporting documents within 10 days of the receipt of the order.

Ombudsman orders VP Sara to answer graft allegations raised by House

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Ombudsman orders VP Sara to answer graft allegations raised by House

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 20, 2025 03:05 PM PHT

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Updated June 20, 2025 04:05 PM PHT

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