Malacañang has urged Vice President Sara Duterte to come home and carry out her duties to Filipinos, and prove that there was no misuse of OVP confidential funds under her watch.
In a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said while the Vice President’s continued stay in the Netherlands, where her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte is detained, is understandable, she has to explain red flags raised over the use of OVP confidential funds.
The Palace spokesperson was referring to additional discoveries of fund disbursements by offices led by the Vice President to apparently fictitious individuals.
“If these (additional discoveries) were discovered, maybe the investigation regarding this should be intensified even more. Why? Because the people have the right to know where the money is really being spent, the public funds, the public treasury where it is being taken,” Castro told reporters in Filipino.
“[And] if this was discovered, it must also be proven because as of the moment, we will still say that there is a presumption of regularity regarding that. But, since this has been questioned, VP Sara needs to prove whether these receipts are true or not,” she added.
Castro’s statement came amid the fresh discovery by a House panel of more suspicious acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit to justify its spending of P500 million in confidential and intelligence funds from December 2022 to September 2023.
The list of dubious names includes “Jay Kamote” and “Miggy Mango” whose surnames appear to be derived from food, House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V revealed on Sunday.
Five other recipients show funds were released to individuals named Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok.
As this developed, Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives prosecution panel is already prepared to conduct Duterte’s impeachment trial in June.
He said the prosecution panel has meticulously reviewed the evidence and legal arguments to ensure a solid and fact-based presentation before the Senate impeachment court.
“The House has done its part in transmitting the Articles of Impeachment, and our prosecution panel is ready to present the case as soon as the impeachment court is convened,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We trust that the Senate will carry out its constitutional duty and proceed with the trial without unnecessary delays, in accordance with the rule of law,” Romualdez added.
He also commended Senate President Francis Escudero for the Upper Chamber’s thorough preparations before the impending impeachment trial.
“The Senate has shown its commitment to upholding due process and ensuring a fair and impartial impeachment trial. I extend my deepest gratitude to Senate President Escudero and the entire Senate for their readiness and professionalism in handling this historic proceeding,” Romualdez said.
His remark came a day after House Secretary General Reginald Velasco and other House officials inspected the Senate facilities designated for the House prosecution team.