Leaders of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Tuesday accused officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) of attempting to cover up issues related to the OVP’s confidential funds by refusing to attend a congressional hearing.
Committee chair, Rep. Joel Chua of Manila’s 3rd District, along with Committee members Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, 2nd District), Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District), Rep. Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa City), Rep. Jay Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District), and Rep. Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), were present at a press conference on Tuesday.
Chua said the absence of key officials and the presence of those not directly involved in the matter suggested an effort to obscure the facts.
“Dahil ang nakikita po namin dito, ang pinapupunta po nila yung mga career officials na sa tingin po namin eh hindi naman po sila talagang concerned. Iyong mga talaga pong mga officials na directly involved dito, parang pilit po nilang hindi pinararating. Parang nagkakaroon po ng cover up dito po sa issue na ito,” Chua noted.
The absent officials, who worked closely with Vice President Sara Duterte, include OVP undersecretary and chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, who submitted an excuse letter after leaving the country, as well as Sunshine and Edward Fajarda, former officials at the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as Department of Education secretary, and Special disbursing officer Gina Acosta.
Khonghun also expressed disappointment over the absence of the officials responsible for managing the OVP’s confidential funds.
“Actually, si VP Sara is shielding her inner circle sa accountability. May selective participation, kung sino lang ‘yung gusto nilang ipadala at walang direktang kinalaman ‘dun sa liquidation ng funds ay iyon ‘yung pinapadala niya,” Khonghun said.
“Nalulungkot ang committee dahil kung sino yung mga taong involved, katulad nila (Gina) Acosta at and kanyang chief of staff, ay hindi pinapapunta ni Vice President Sara dahil sila naman talaga yung may responsibility regarding the confidential fund, dahil siya yung disbursing officer,” Khonghun continued.
“At sana ‘wag niya na pagtakpan kasi nga tama naman si chairman Joel na parang nagkakaroon ng cover up, kung sino yung mga walang kinalaman eh yun yung pinapapunta nila, samantalang yung mga taong may responsibility regarding dun sa papaano ginastos yung pera ng ating pamahalaan, eh iyon ‘yung hindi pinapapunta,” Khonghun added.
Responding to the Vice President’s claim that the absent officials were busy preparing for the OVP’s anniversary, Chua emphasized that the committee had sent multiple invitations, all of which were declined.
“Actually, hindi naman po ito ‘yung first time na sila ay ma-imbitahan; this is actually the fifth committee hearing. Talaga namang ‘yung mga directly involved dito sa isyung ‘to sa confidential fund ay talagang hindi nila pinapupunta,” Chua said.