Office of the Vice President logo and Vice President Sara Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on good government on Tuesday issued another subpoena to seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) who were linked to the alleged misuse of government funds under Vice President Sara Duterte’s watch.
This time, panel chair and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua warned the resource persons that a “much heavier penalty” awaits them if they opt to skip the ongoing probe.
“We will just reissue another subpoena with a stern warning that the next time they fail to attend we will be constrained to a issue much heavier penalty,” he said.
All seven did not show up during the panel’s hearing on Tuesday. They are the following:
- OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez
- Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Committee Chair Lemuel Ortonio
- Administrative and Financial Services Director Rosalynne Sanchez
- Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta
- Chief Accountant Juleita Villadelrey
- former Department of Education Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda
- SDO Edward Fajarda.
READ: House: 1 of 7 OVP officials linked to alleged fund misuse left PH
During the Tuesday hearing, lawmakers learned that Lopez left the country on Monday night for Los Angeles, California.
Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano made the motion to issue another subpoena to OVP officials, which Deputy Speaker David Suarez seconded.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. appealed to the OVP officials to attend the hearing and answer their questions related to the OVP’s alleged mismanagement of funds.
The panel also issued a subpoena to two more OVP officials, Budget Division chief Edelyn Rabago and Chief Administrative Officer Kelvin Gerome Teñido.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong believes their testimonies are crucial for the ongoing probe.
Adiong’s motion to include Tenido and Rabago in the subpoena came after House committee secretary Sheryl Lagrosas revealed that the panel already invited them to the probe.
Under the rules of the lower chamber, Lagrosas said, the witnesses are allowed to have two unjustified absences. They only have to submit position papers about “refusing to attend.”
