VP SARA ACCUSED OF ‘COVER-UP’ IN ALLEGED MISUSE OF P500-M OVP CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS

By Junex Doronio

MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte is accused of orchestrating a “cover-up” by preventing key associates—allegedly involved in the misuse of P500 million in confidential funds (CIF) for the Office of the Vice President (OVP)—from attending a House inquiry.

Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, expressed frustration over the absence of those directly responsible for handling the funds under scrutiny.

“Ang nakikita po namin dito, pinapapunta po nila ‘yung mga career officials na sa tingin po namin ay hindi naman po sila ang talagang concerned. Parang nagkakaroon po ng cover-up dito sa issue na ito,” Chua said in response to a reporter’s question during a press conference.

During the committee’s fifth hearing on Monday, OVP career officials—including Administrative and Financial Services Director Rosalynne Sanchez, Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey, Budget Division Chief Edelyn Rabago, and Chief Administrative Officer Kelvin Gerome Tenido—testified after multiple invitations and a subpoena.

However, Duterte’s close associates, such as OVP Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez and Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, were absent. Both Lopez and Acosta had served as Duterte’s staff during her tenure as Davao City mayor.

The OVP career officials testified that they had no personal knowledge or involvement with the CIFs, instead pointing to Lopez and Acosta as those primarily responsible, as both are part of Duterte’s inner circle.

House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun criticized Duterte’s actions, which he said showed “selective participation” designed to shield her inner circle from scrutiny.

“Actually, si VP Sara is shielding her inner circle from accountability. May selective participation, kung sino lang ‘yung gusto nilang ipadala at walang direktang kinalaman ‘dun sa liquidation ng funds, ‘yun ‘yung pinapadala niya,” Khonghun remarked, echoing Chua’s concern that sending officials without direct involvement gave the impression of a cover-up.

Responding to Duterte’s claim that certain officials were too busy preparing for the OVP’s anniversary to attend, Chua pointed out that the committee had sent multiple invitations, all of which had been ignored.

“Hindi naman po ito ‘yung first time na sila ay maimbitahan; this is actually the fifth committee hearing. Talaga namang ‘yung mga directly involved dito sa isyung ito, sa confidential funds, ay hindi nila pinapupunta,” he said, citing testimony that only Acosta, Lopez, and Duterte herself were privy to the details of the CIFs.

The committee is seeking explanations from OVP officials on the alleged misuse of P500 million in CIFs for the last quarter of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023.

The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged nearly half of the total amount, disallowing P73 million of the P125 million spent by the OVP in just 11 days during the last quarter of 2022. It also issued Audit Observation Memorandums for P375 million spent in the first three quarters of 2023, citing alleged irregularities.

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