Jamaine Punzalan

Private counsel for the prosecution Atty. Lorna Kapunan conducts the direct examination of former Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Roderick Wamil as he continues his testimony before the Impeachment Court during the 12th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Katrina Domingo

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178582248473220260804-senate-impeachment-day12-kapunan-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Private counsel for the prosecution Atty. Lorna Kapunan conducts the direct examination of former Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Roderick Wamil as he continues his testimony before the Impeachment Court during the 12th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Counsel for prosecutors Lorna Kapunan claimed Tuesday that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) were involved in “scams” after the two offices used their millions-worth of confidential funds for other non-allowable expenses.</p><p>Before the Senate impeachment court went for a lunch break on the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">12th trial day</a>, the defense panel moved to strike Kapunan’s last statement from the record as the private prosecutor described the OVP and DepEd’s P612.5-million disbursements as a “scam.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/4/witness-flags-violations-in-ovp-confidential-fund-use-1239">Witness flags &#x27;violations&#x27; in OVP confidential fund use</a></div><p>“Kapag humingi ka sa nanay mo, ‘Mommy, pahinging 5,000 bibili ako ng libro.’ Hindi mo ginamit sa pagbili ng libro, bibili ka ng make-up o nag-date ka.  Anong tawag doon? Ini-scam mo nanay mo,” she told reporters in a chance interview. </p><p>“Kapag paulit-ulit yan at hindi mo ginamit ang pera na sinabi mong gagamitin, eh ang tawag doon scam pero ang ini-scam ngayon, hindi nanay kung hindi tayo. Ang inii-scam ay taongbayan,” she said.</p><p>While her last statement in the court was stricken off the record, Kapunan underscored that it was important for her to make that observation in public.</p><p>“Kahit tinanggal sa record, gusto ko lang sabihin yan kasi siyempre para maintindihan natin. Kapag ini-scam kayo di ba masakit ang loob ninyo?” she said.</p><p>“Pinakita ng witness natin na tingnan mo ang ginamit, binigay yang medicines. Saan ang resibo ng medicines?” she asked.</p><p>“Maski kaninong pangalan ‘yan, saan ginamit? Ano ang ebidensya na ginamit sa medicines? Ano ang ebidensya na ginamit sa supplies? Na ginamit sa safe house regardless kung ano ang pangalan.&quot;</p><p>Kapunan’s scam remark in the trial was made shortly before she ended her direct examination of state auditor Roderick Wamil, who was part of the auditing the OVP and DepEd’s confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/4/vp-duterte-staff-asked-coa-to-issue-audit-query-instead-of-observation-memo-witness-1327">VP Duterte staff asked COA to issue audit query instead of observation memo—witness</a></div><p>Meanwhile, House prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon agreed with Kapunan, saying: “Ito po ay katulad ng Napoles PDAF scam… Sa Napoles scam, ang pinag-usapan po doon ghost NGOs, malalaking pera na hindi po natin alam kung saan napunta. Ganun din po nangyari dito.” </p><p>House prosecution spokesperson Atty. Jay Tolosa  added that the defense&#x27;s cross-examination of Wamil failed to address key issues raised during the proceedings, including the OVP&#x27;s alleged failure to submit official receipts, sales invoices, and other supporting documents for its confidential funds to the COA, as well as how the office spent P125 million in just 11 days.</p><p>“Yung pinakamahalagang tanong dito, tulad nga ng nasaan ang mga resibo to show na nagkaroon talaga ng pagbili ng mga medical supplies, hindi yan, they didn&#x27;t even touch on this matter… So, it means the testimony of the witness on this matter stand,” he said.</p><div><strong>WATCH: </strong></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/rIkpGunq2ZA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Counsel for prosecutors Lorna Kapunan claimed Tuesday that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) were involved in “scams” after the two offices used their millions-worth of confidential funds for other non-allowable expenses.</p>

Counsel for prosecutors Lorna Kapunan claimed Tuesday that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) were involved in “scams” after the two offices used their millions-worth of confidential funds for other non-allowable expenses.

Kapunan says OVP, DepEd use of confidential funds a 'scam'; defense objects

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Kapunan says OVP, DepEd use of confidential funds a 'scam'; defense objects

Katrina Domingo,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 04, 2026 01:49 PM PHT

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Updated August 04, 2026 04:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Lorna Kapunan

Sara Duterte Impeachment

Confidential Funds

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