The House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, has uncovered concerning irregularities in the handling of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds. This raises the possibility of plunder charges being filed against the officials involved.
During Monday’s hearing, committee vice chairman and Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop highlighted the scale of the alleged misuse of funds in his opening statement.
“Let me remind the public of what is at stake here: It would constitute graft and corruption if public funds are misused or misappropriated or worse, if funds are diverted to personal use or benefit. And given the amount we are talking about here, this is clearly plunder,” Acop emphasized.
Acop also pointed out the lack of transparency and accountability in the disbursement and liquidation of the confidential funds, which came from taxpayers. He said this demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law.
The investigation revealed that funds were withdrawn and encashed in large sums on a quarterly basis by Special Disbursing Officers (SDOs), who then handed the money over to “security officers” as instructed by the Vice President.
“Malalaking halaga po ang mga ito. Sa OVP pa lang, nakakakuha sila ng P125 million kada quarter simula noong Q4 of 2022 hanggang Q3 of 2023. Sa DepEd naman, P37.5 million per quarter for three quarters, or a total of P112.5 million,” Acop reiterated.
Acop noted that the acknowledgment receipts for the disbursement of funds were provided only after the encashment reports had already been submitted.
“Tila ba sinasadya tayong nililito, nililigaw, at pinapagulo ang narrative sa kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa OVP at DepEd confidential funds,” he said.
Acop stressed that accountability is crucial for restoring public trust.
“Ngunit unti-unti, sa pamamagitan ng ating masusi at pursigidong pagtatanong at sa paghahanap ng mga facts at ebidensya, ay ating natatanggal ang secrecy na nagkukubli at nagtatago sa katotohanan,” he explained.
He added that he would leave it to the appropriate investigative authorities to pursue potential criminal charges, while the House of Representatives focuses on legislating measures to prevent the misuse of funds in the future.
“We leave it to the investigative bodies of the government to investigate the crimes committed here. Meanwhile, our task now is to legislate measures that will leave no room for pilferage of public funds,” Acop concluded.