Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, file

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — It would be better for Vice President Sara Duterte to answer the allegations in the impeachment complaint against her during her trial instead of before the media, House impeachment prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said.He issued the statement on Thursday after Duterte cautioned the public against believing House members&#x27; statements on her office’s supposed use of “fictitious names” in acknowledgment receipts for confidential funds. Duterte said “there are rules in intelligence operations” and that “aliases are often used” in them. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/30/house-leader-flags-more-names-in-confidential-funds-recipient-list-1506">House leader flags more names in confidential funds recipient list </a></div>Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability in the 19th Congress, said Duterte could also have gave those explanations during committee hearings into the confidential funds.“Sa akin kasi mas maganda sagutin na lang ‘yan sa mismo impeachment kesa dito po sa media,” he added.(For me, it would be better to answer those during the actual trial instead of through media)Chua welcomed the defense’s plan to tap two intelligence experts as resource persons during the trial, saying they could help explain alleged irregularities in fund release and accounting.“Dahil matagal naman na natin inaantay ‘yung paliwanag nila,” he said.(Because we have been waiting for that explanation for so long)<div>OVP GETS &#x27;UNMODIFIED OPINION&#x27; FROM COA</div>On Thursday, the Office of the Vice President said it received an “unmodified opinion” from the Commission on Audit for year 2024, the third consecutive year. An unmodified opinion is issued when an auditor “concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework,” the COA said in its website.But ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio said the unmodified opinion for those years do not cancel out that COA also issued a Notice of Disallowance on P73 million in confidential funds the OVP spent in 2022.Among the reasons for the disallowance were a lack of documents supporting acknowledgment receipts for payments of rewards for intelligence and surveillance activities and the use of these funds for tables, chairs, and computers.A notice of disallowance is final and executory if not appealed within six months from receipt by the accountable officers. &quot;Gayundin ang napakaraming anomalya sa paggastos ng kanyang 2023 CF na nalantad sa mga hearing ng Kongreso, kabilang ang paggamit ng mga pekeng pangalan at palsipikadong accomplishment reports na sinumite mismo sa COA,&quot; Tinio said in a statement.(The same can be said for the numerous anomalies in spending the 2023 confidential funds that were revealed at the House hearings, including the use of fake names and fake accomplishment reports that were submitted to COA)He added these would not be uncovered in a regular COA audit and will have to come out during the impeachment trial.Chua also believes it is better to discuss the matter during the impeachment trial.Duterte has said the allegations can be &quot;very well addressed during the trial&quot; but, in her Answer Ad Cautelam, has also asked the impeachment court to dismiss the case.Should the case be dismissed without trial, Duterte said she will “answer publicly” the allegations.<div>JURISDICTION</div>Chua said he respects Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s plan to raise the issue of jurisdiction at the Senate but he called on senators to decide the matter fairly.He asserted that the Senate is a continuing body, and therefore has jurisdiction over the complaint against Duterte.“Tayo naman naniniwala na ang trabaho po nila ay ito ay dinggin. Dahil kung sila po ay naniniwala na wala naman pong masamang ginawa, ito po ‘yung pagkakataon para malinis po ‘yung pangalan ng impeachable officer,” he added.(We believe that the Senate&#x27;s task is to hold the trial. Because if the senators believe the there was no wrongdoing, the trial will afford the impeachable official a chance to clear themselves)

It would be better for Vice President Sara Duterte to answer the allegations in the impeachment complaint against her during her trial instead of before the media, House impeachment prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said.

It would be better for Vice President Sara Duterte to answer the allegations in the impeachment complaint against her during her trial instead of before the media, House impeachment prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said.

Allegations vs VP Duterte better answered during trial, not before media: House prosecutor

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Allegations vs VP Duterte better answered during trial, not before media: House prosecutor

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 10, 2025 05:59 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

impeachment

trial

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