By Junex Doronio

MANILA – The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday (11 November 2024) cited four officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for contempt and ordered their detention after repeatedly defying summonses to attend an inquiry into the alleged mishandling of government funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.

The four officials cited in contempt are OVP Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Committee Chair Lemuel Ortonio, Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, and former Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda and SDO Edward Fajarda, who transferred to the OVP after Duterte resigned as DepEd secretary in July this year.

During its fifth hearing, the committee, chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, found the officials in contempt following a motion by Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez, who highlighted their “continued defiance” in failing to appear at the inquiry.

The committee had previously issued subpoenas for the officials to attend after multiple invitations were ignored.

Following the contempt citation, committee vice-chair Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop moved for their detention at the House premises until the inquiry concludes and the committee report is submitted for plenary approval.

In contrast, four other OVP officials attended Monday’s hearing, including Administrative and Financial Services Director Rosalynne Sanchez, Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey, Budget Division Chief Edelyn Rabago, and Chief Administrative Officer Kelvin Gerome Teñido.

The committee withheld action on OVP Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, who left the country on Nov. 4, a day before her scheduled appearance. Lopez submitted a letter explaining that she had traveled to the United States to accompany her ailing aunt for intensive medical care, citing her legal designation as a caretaker.

Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez questioned Lopez’s explanation, calling it a “clear evasion” and urging validation of her claim.

“The testimony of Ms. Zuleika Lopez is crucial. If we allow her excuse, other resource persons might follow,” Fernandez warned. “They can run, but they cannot hide anymore.”

Despite concerns, the committee voted to reissue a subpoena to Lopez, citing “humanitarian considerations.” Suarez also expressed a willingness to extend “a little bit more understanding,” adding, “We can accept Atty. Lopez’s letter, but only until our next hearing.”

As for the four OVP officials cited for contempt, Chua dismissed their excuses as “unacceptable.” In letters to the committee, Ortonio, Acosta, and the Fajardas stated they could not attend due to OVP activities in Caraga, Panay Island, and Negros Island, supported by their official travel orders.

Suarez noted that the committee had been patient with the OVP officials.

“Let’s not forget, Mr. Chair, that these are public officials. It is their duty to appear and explain how the funds in question were spent,” he emphasized.

The inquiry focuses on the handling of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd. Allegations include the misuse of P500 million in confidential funds by the OVP and an additional P112.5 million by DepEd when Duterte was Education Secretary.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged nearly half of the total, disallowing P73 million spent by the OVP within 11 days in the last quarter of 2022.

Despite four previous hearings, key OVP officials have failed to attend, leaving significant questions unanswered regarding the use of confidential funds.

The committee has reviewed documents from COA, the Department of Budget and Management, DepEd, and other agencies, with resource persons providing insights into fund usage. However, Chua noted that serious concerns remain, particularly over the OVP’s use of funds for medical and food aid, with questionable acknowledgment receipts raising further red flags.

Philippine Army members also refuted DepEd’s claim that confidential funds supported Youth Leadership Summits.

The OVP has maintained that its explanations are in the documents submitted to COA. However, Chua argued that the documentation is insufficient, especially when the documents themselves are questioned.

“There are questions that the documents themselves can’t answer. This is why we need the presence of these officers. Sila lang po ang makakasagot sa mga katanungan natin,” Chua stressed.

ia/mnm

By Junex Doronio

MANILA – Following their leader’s example, five officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) skipped Wednesday’s (25 Sept 2024) congressional inquiry into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of public funds. This prompted the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to issue a show-cause order demanding their explanation.

The officials named in the order include Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez (chief of staff), Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio (assistant chief of staff), Rosalynne Sanchez (director of Administrative and Financial Services), special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey.

If these officials fail to provide a satisfactory explanation or if the committee deems their response insufficient, they could face a contempt order, which may lead to their arrest and detention.

The committee, chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, directed the officials to explain why they should not be cited for contempt after ignoring the invitation to attend the hearing. The directive followed a motion by Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, the committee’s vice chair.

Although the panel invited 17 OVP officials, only OVP spokesperson Michael Poa, appointed on August 19, appeared. Poa informed the committee that he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the OVP during the proceedings.

According to the committee secretariat, several OVP officials were seen before the hearing began but left once proceedings started.

VP Sara Duterte was also absent. In a letter dated September 23, she informed Chua that she would not attend what she called an “unnecessary” hearing and urged the committee to terminate the probe.

The investigation originated from a privilege speech by Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, accusing Duterte of mismanaging OVP funds based on Commission on Audit (COA) findings.

COA disallowed over P73 million of the P125 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP in 2022 – nearly 60 percent of the total. Even more concerning, COA found that this amount was spent in just 11 days, from December 20 to 31, 2022, averaging P11 million per day.

In its Notice of Disallowance, COA ordered Vice President Duterte, along with Acosta and Villadelrey as “accountable officials,” to return the disallowed P73 million to the government.

Additionally, COA questioned a further P500 million allocated over 2022 and 2023, with only 10 percent or P51 million cleared, leaving the majority of the funds under scrutiny.

The Chua panel also expanded its investigation to include the Department of Education (DepEd), which Duterte also heads, regarding its failure to deliver ICT equipment to teachers and students, as well as concerns over proper fund utilization.

The inquiry highlighted DepEd’s low utilization rate of 19.22 percent, with nearly P9 billion of its P11.36 billion budget for ICT equipment left unused in 2023.

The committee will also examine the 2023 COA report, which revealed serious operational deficiencies in DepEd’s Computerization Program. The report noted that only 50 percent of the program’s budget had been utilized, with no substantial accomplishments for the year.

ia/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA – The budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the year 2025 has increased by eight percent, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the proposed budget for the OVP for next year is P2.037 billion.

Pangandaman stated that P188.5 million is allocated for Personnel Services, P1.79 billion for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, and P56 million for Capital Outlay.

During the briefing, Pangandaman mentioned that the OVP did not request a Confidential and Intelligence Fund (CIF) for 2025.

“Sa CIF po, wala pong CIF ang Office of the Vice President. I think, hindi rin po siya nag-request ng CIF,” she said.

(ia/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has issued a warning to the public about unverified Google form links circulating online that falsely claim to be part of the OVP’s relief operations.

“These Google forms are NOT OFFICIAL AND NOT FROM THE OVP,” the OVP stated on its official social media account.

“Filling out these unverified forms could compromise your private and personal information,” the statement added.

The OVP advises the public to transact only with legitimate OVP offices and employees or to watch for official announcements from the office.

Earlier, the OVP conducted relief operations for those affected by Typhoon Carina. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), over 880,000 individuals have been impacted by the typhoon.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Dang Samson-Garcia

THE Department of Education, Office of the Vice President and several other agencies will get zero confidential funds next year as the House of Representatives has decided to align such funds under the proposed P5.768-trillion budget.

House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairman Stella Quimbo confirmed that the House’s small panel agreed to reallocate P194 billion, including the P1.23 billion confidential fund, to other items that address the rising cost of commodities and develop and protect the West Philippine Sea.

“Our panel introduced P194 billion worth of institutional amendments. The main goal was to rationalize the allocation of resources to fight inflation, invest in human capital and in our country’s future,” Quimbo said.

Other agencies that lost their confidential fund allocation are the Department of Agriculture, Department of Information and Communications Technology and Department of Foreign Affairs.

The P1.23 billion will go to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, P300 million; P100 million to the National Security Council; P200 million to the Philippine Coast Guard for intelligence activities and ammunition; and P381.8 million to the Department of Transportation for airport development and expansion of Pag-asa Island Airport.