VP Sara Duterte composite image from Inquirer stock and House of Representatives of the Philippines photos
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte may be liable for graft if she cannot explain to the Commission on Audit (COA) how her office spent its confidential funds (CF) for 2022, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said on Tuesday.
The COA issued a notice of disallowance on P73.2 million of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P125-million CF for 2022 — an item which several lawmakers said should be unavailable in the first place as the original budget crafted under former Vice President Leni Robredo did not have such.
“More than just allegations of mismanagement, she may be held liable for graft for possible violation of the anti-graft laws if she cannot adequately explain and justify the adverse findings, and if the COA does not accept her explanations and justifications,” Dalipe’s statement read.
“This raises serious questions about the propriety of how these funds were used. The fact that P73 million was flagged means that the public deserves answers. If the Vice President’s office cannot explain or rectify these discrepancies, this could lead to more than just administrative penalties. It could point to criminal liability for graft,” it added.
Dalipe urged the COA to “submit its final report to the Office of the Ombudsman and Congress ASAP.”
“Its rules should apply to all public officers, regardless of rank,” he added.
Dalipe also said Duterte’s interviews were a mere attempt to divert attention from issues on the budget utilization of the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd), which were discussed by the House committee on appropriations.
“It seems the Vice President is pulling out all the stops to shift the spotlight, but the Filipino people are smarter than that. The real issue here is the glaring mismanagement of DepEd funds under her watch, where much-needed classrooms for our children were left unbuilt,” the House official added.
‘Squid tactics’
Duterte and OVP representatives were supposed to be present at the House committee on appropriations hearing on Tuesday, as deliberations on their proposed 2025 budget last August 27 were deferred because Duterte did not directly answer the lawmakers’ questions.
READ: OVP budget deferred after Duterte evades questions at House hearing
However, neither Duterte nor any representative from the OVP was present to address the questions.
The Vice President sent a letter to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and panel chair Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co instead to state that they have already submitted the necessary documents to the House panel.
READ: VP Sara skips House hearing on 2025 OVP budget, sends letter instead
Dalipe believes these are merely part of Duterte’s “squid tactics.”
“Instead of focusing on delivering results, we’re now seeing what others suspect all along, that the Vice President is resorting to squid tactics — using smokescreens and diversionary moves to escape accountability,” he said.
“Hindi po palusot at pambibintang ang hinihingi nating kasagutan mula sa ating Pangalawang Pangulo. Ang hiling ng mamamayan, paliwanag kung paano niya ginastos ang pera ng bayan na ipinagkatiwala sa kanyang pamamahala,” he added.
(Pointing fingers and alibis are not what the people need from the Vice President. What the people are asking is an explanation of how she spent the public funds entrusted to her.)
Due to Duterte’s absence, deliberations on the OVP’s proposed allocations for 2025 were deferred again by the House committee on appropriations.
Earlier, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante called out Duterte for skipping the House’s hearings, noting that not even the country’s second-highest official can insult Congress.
READ: Sara Duterte told: Even if you’re VP, you can’t insult House
Minority lawmakers like Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas also slammed Duterte for her absence, saying that while the Vice President “may not like” being questioned about her office’s expenses, “she is accountable to the people” as a public official.