Akbayan Party, along with progressive group Tindig Pilipinas, on Monday urged the Office of the Ombudsman to take swift action against Vice President Sara Duterte for the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds and grave abuse of power.
Akbayan Party president Rafaela David and Akbayan Youth chairperson Justine Balane; Tindig Pilipinas convenors Kiko Aquino Dee, Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, and Teresita Quintos Deles; and human rights lawyer Dino de Leon collectively appealed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to hold Duterte liable after her claim that she used the confidential funds to investigate corruption within her agency.
In their letter, the groups said the Vice President’s alibi is meant to distract the public from her blatant misuse of public funds.
The Akbayan Party leader said their move is necessary to prevent another powerful official from evading scrutiny.
“She is trying to fool us around. She must explain in court so we would really know who Mary Grace Piattos is, and where the people’s money went. This is why we urge the Ombudsman to initiate an investigation and file cases on the grave abuses of Sara Duterte,” David said.
“The people will not be fooled. The confidential and intelligence funds served as VP Sara Duterte’s personal pork, and she cannot run free from accountability,” she added.
