House panel warns OVP execs of arrest if they snub hearing

Manila Rep. Joel Chua —Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The head of a panel of the House of Representatives on Sunday warned seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that they could be ordered arrested if they continue to snub his committee’s summons and fail to appear on Monday’s hearing.

The OVP officials who have been subpoenaed by the House committee on good government and public accountability are 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 Gina Acosta; chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey; as well as couple Edward and Sunshine Charry Fajarda, who were previously with the Department of Education (DepEd) and transferred to the OVP when Duterte resigned as education secretary in June.

READ: House: 1 of 7 OVP officials linked to alleged fund misuse left PH

Only two of these officials, Sanchez and Villadelrey, have confirmed their attendance to the Nov. 11 hearing. The Department of Justice has issued an immigration lookout bulletin order for the seven upon the panel’s request.

READ: House panel issues subpoena to OVP officials anew

“The committee has summoned these officials multiple times, yet they continue to disregard our lawful requests to appear,” said committee chair Manila Rep. Joel Chua. His panel is looking into allegations of misuse of public funds in the OVP and DepEd.

Notice of disallowance

“These absences reflect a blatant disregard [of] the authority of Congress and are unacceptable,” he said. “If they fail to appear again, we are prepared to issue orders for their arrest.”

Subpoenas ad testificandum (to testify) were issued against the OVP officials who could explain how some P500 million in confidential funds allocated to the agency was utilized by the Vice President in 2022 and 2023. The Fajardas are expected to testify on the use of the DepEd’s P112.5-million confidential fund last year, with Sunshine Fajarda having served as assistant secretary and Edward as special disbursing officer in the agency under Duterte.

The Commission on Audit has issued a notice of disallowance on P73 million of the P125 million in confidential funds spent by the OVP in just 11 days in December 2022. The state auditor directed Duterte, Acosta, and Villadelrey to return the disallowed amount due to either the absence of supporting documents or the submission of deficient acknowledgment receipts to justify its use.

“The committee has been more than fair in giving these officials ample opportunities to cooperate,” Chua said. “If they fail to appear this time, they leave us no choice but to impose heavier penalties, including contempt and potential arrest and detention.”