By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Wrapping up the investigation, in aid of legislation, into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to Vice President Sara Duterte, the chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday (9 December 2024) denounced what he described as the abuse of public trust hidden under the guise of secrecy.

Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua delivered a sharp and damning summation, focusing on the central question that defined the months-long inquiry: “Saan napunta ang confidential funds?”

“Siguro po panahon na upang harapin natin ang katotohanan na hindi lahat ng mga nahahalal o nalalagay sa posisyon sa gobyerno ay pwedeng basta-bastang pagkatiwalaan,” Chua said in his opening statement during the eighth hearing of the panel, also known as the House Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Kailangan pa rin ng safeguards, pati sa ‘confidential funds.’ Sapagka’t hindi maiiwasan na may mga magtatangkang gamitin ang pagka-confidential nito upang itago ang impormasyon at pang-aabuso sa tiwala ng taumbayan,” he added.

Chua warned that the term “confidential” is being weaponized to obscure truth and evade accountability, a pattern revealed in the committee’s probe into the mishandling of confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when Duterte was still its secretary.

“Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, ang ‘confidential’ funds ay hindi ‘discretionary’ allowance o funds ng isang ahensya. Hindi sya ‘secret funds,’” he pointed out.

The committee found that from late 2022 to the third quarter of 2023, the OVP spent P500 million and the DepEd disbursed P112.5 million in confidential funds. These expenditures, totaling P612.5 million, lacked transparency and accountability, with incomplete or vague documentation that evaded proper scrutiny.

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By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua on Monday (25 November 2024) accused Vice President Sara Duterte of orchestrating “diversionary tactics” to deflect scrutiny from the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, opened the committee’s seventh hearing with a fiery rebuke, asserting that Duterte and her team have resorted to theatrics and obfuscation to bury the truth behind mounting anomalies.

“Imbes na sagutin ang ating mga katanungan, nag-stage po ng mala-siege sa loob ng Kongreso at nagpaunlak ng kung anu-anong kwento ukol sa pag-detain kay Atty. Lopez,” Chua said.

Central to the controversy is Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the OVP’s Chief of Staff, who was cited for contempt in the previous hearing for what Chua characterized as “evasive, uncooperative, and untruthful” behavior.

“Paulit-ulit din pong sinasabi ni Atty. Lopez na wala siyang alam sa utilization ng confidential funds ng OVP. Paulit-ulit ito na sagot,” Chua said, pointing to evidence that contradicted Lopez’s claims, including documents signed by her related to the liquidation of funds.

Lopez, Chua said, also admitted to authoring a letter attempting to block the Commission on Audit from complying with a congressional subpoena.

“Kung titingnan po ang totality of Atty. Lopez’ acts, malinaw na merong clear, persistent, and willful attempt to interfere, frustrate, and defeat the inquiry undertaken by the Committee,” Chua declared.

The investigation has been overshadowed by what Chua described as disruptive and theatrical actions by Vice President Duterte, who repeatedly stayed overnight in the House complex following Lopez’s detention.

Chua slammed Duterte’s presence as a blatant violation of security protocols and a deliberate attempt to derail the inquiry.

Despite multiple accommodations—including extended visiting hours, medical care, and access to Lopez’s personal physician and legal counsel—Duterte allegedly continued to disregard House rules.

This prompted the committee to order Lopez’s transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Chua reiterated that the inquiry had uncovered alarming irregularities in the handling of confidential funds.

Among the issues are discrepancies in acknowledgment receipts, misleading certifications issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the unexplained role of a certain “Mary Grace Piattos.”

“Hanggang ngayon ay wala tayong natatanggap na malinaw na paliwanag kung bakit binudol ang mga kawani ng AFP na maglabas ng mga sertipikasyon na gagamitin pala ng DepEd sa pag-justify ng kanilang paggamit ng confidential funds kahit na wala namang natanggap na pera ang AFP,” Chua said, calling the actions a brazen betrayal of public trust.

Chua delivered a powerful call to action, urging the public to reject efforts to deflect attention from the scandal and demand accountability.

“Sa bawat pagdinig po natin, patong-patong po ang mga natutuklasang kababalaghan na nangyari sa P612.5 million na confidential funds ng OVP at DepEd. At panawagan ko po sa taumbayan na huwag po natin hayaan na ibaon ang ating mga katanungan gamit ang mga diversionary tactics,” he said.

The committee, Chua added, will remain steadfast in its mission to uncover the truth and answer the fundamental question: “Saan po talaga napunta ang P612.5 million pesos na pera ng bayan?”

As the hearings continue, the investigation is expected to intensify, with lawmakers vowing to hold accountable those responsible for what Chua described as “a systematic betrayal of public trust. “

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By Junex Doronio

MANILA – The chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is considering two potential grounds for impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte as an investigation into alleged fund mismanagement by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) unfolds.

Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua noted that although the investigation was initially launched “in aid of legislation,” it has revealed possible grounds for Duterte’s impeachment, particularly on graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

Responding to Duterte’s claim that the committee’s work is a “fishing expedition” targeting her office, Chua clarified, “In the first place, ginawa naman po ito not for the purpose of impeaching her. Ang purpose naman po rito ay in aid of legislation.”

He further highlighted findings such as the P125 million in confidential funds that the OVP under Duterte spent within just 11 days in December 2022, raising concerns.

“Na-shock po ang lahat sa P125 million na nagastos in 11 days. At may lumabas nga po na findings ang COA (Commission on Audit) na nag-issue ng Notice of Disallowance (ND),” he stated.

In August, the COA issued an ND for P73.28 million out of the P125 million, citing improper use and regulatory violations. The COA directed Duterte and other accountable officials from the OVP to settle the disallowed amount.

Duterte’s office was also allocated P500 million in confidential funds for 2023, of which P375 million was received—equating to P125 million per quarter. Each quarter’s funds are under Audit Observation Memorandums due to financial and operational issues, potentially leading to further NDs if not justified.

Amid public scrutiny over the rapid expenditure of P125 million in late 2022, the House of Representatives denied her request for an additional P500 million in confidential funds for 2024.

Chua suggested that the Vice President could face impeachment for graft and corruption, referencing alleged unaccounted funds, such as P15 million in DepEd’s confidential funds during Duterte’s term as Secretary, and alleged overpriced rentals for OVP safe houses.

“Pare-parehas po tayong nagtatanong kung saan napunta ‘yung P15 million. May certification, sine-certify pero inamin naman ng Army na hindi sa kanila napunta, walang dinownload. Ngayon ang tanong—saan napunta? ‘Yung P16 million na rental for safe houses [noong last quarter of 2022], walang detalye. Hindi po natin alam kung totoo nga pong nagamit sa rentals,” Chua noted.

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By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Can’t the Filipino capitalists moderate their greed for profit?

This question cropped up on Tuesday (20 Feb 2024) as Manila’s 3rd district Representative Joel Chua expressed strong doubts on the viability of the P100 legislated wage hike, saying this will only result to inflation, layoffs of workers and possible shutdown of firms.

“Ang nakikita ko sa P100 increase, tatlo ang pwedeng mangyari. Una, pwedeng ipasa nila sa consumer ‘yung increase sa labor. Ang epekto, magtataas ‘yung mga bilihin.Pangalawa, pag hindi nila kakayanin, magbabawas sila ng labor sector. Pangatlo, malamang ‘yung iba magsara,” Chua said in his interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

On Monday (19 February 2024), the Senate passed on third reading Senate Bill No. 2534, which seeks a P100 daily minimum wage increase for employees and workers in the private sector.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas praised the Senate for passing SB 2534.

“Although the P100 increase in wages is not enough to reach the P1,193 family living wage, this is an initial step toward putting the spotlight on the plight of the workers who have long been calling for a significant wage hike,” Brosas noted.

For his part, Senator Bong Go urged the rich to distribute their income to the poor.

To recall, in a study last month, research group IBON Foundation found that a family of five in the National Capital Region (NCR) needs P1,193 daily or P25,946 monthly to live decently.

However, the existing minimum wage in the NCR is still pegged at P610 and lower in other regions.

(el Amigo/MNM)