Solons quiz Lopez over claims she doesn’t know OVP secret fund deals

SUAREZ / SAVED AUGUST 11, 2024
Quezon 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez
PHOTO FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FB PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez was quizzed by different House of Representatives lawmakers over her claims that she is not aware of confidential fund (CF) transactions made by their office.

Deputy Speaker David Suarez, during the hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability on Wednesday, asked how come Lopez insists not knowing about the OVP’s CFs when she was named by OVP Director for Administrative and Financial Services Rosalynne Sanchez as knowledgeable.

According to Suarez, Sanchez — who was seated beside Lopez — said that three people have access to CF transactions: Lopez, special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, and Vice President Sara Duterte.

“When it comes to confidential funds, Atty. Lopez, do you have information regarding this?”  Suarez asked, to which Lopez responded in the negative.  “None, then why is the person beside you saying that when it comes to the confidential and intelligence fund of the [OVP], only three people have the knowledge and information — you, Gina Acosta, at si Vice President Sara Duterte.  That’s what the person beside you said.”

“Please explain to me why would the person beside you say that and you would deny that?  Are you gonna fire her too?” Suarez asked.

“I cannot answer for Director Sanchez your Honor,” Lopez replied.

Suarez also noted that it was Lopez who wrote the response to different letters and summons regarding confidential fund expense issues, including the answer to the Commission on Audit (COA) audit observation memorandum (AOM).

“If you are not knowledgeable, Atty. Lopez, with the utilization ng confidential funds, why is it that on April 19, 2024, where your signature is affixed to a document that was forwarded to COA, you answer the [AOM] of COA, if you did not know the confidential fund issue, why are you answering it?” Suarez asked.

“Your Honor, as I mentioned earlier, all external communications come from the Office of the Chief-of-Staff,” Lopez replied.

“Atty. Lopez, you’re not making sense, you just mentioned that you have no knowledge and information about confidential funds, and yet to the AOM of COA, you answer it?” Suarez asked again.

Later on in the hearing, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop made the same observations, that Lopez’ letters to COA show that she knows the ins and outs of OVP’s CF transactions.

“What I know is that the chief-of-staff is the most knowledgeable among the staff of a head of office,” Acop said.

“In most cases, your Honor, yes […] it is only in this matter that I am not privy to, the matter of confidential funds in the [OVP],” Lopez said.

“You’re lying Madam Attorney, simply because the letters that you wrote to COA would belie your statement.  Because you know, if you read the contents of your letter, you will know that the person who wrote is knowledgeable.  How can you explain the AOM?” Acop asked.  “Are you trying to say that you signed without knowing what was stated?”

This led Acop to ask Lopez if she was the one who wrote the letter to COA, asking that the commission refrain from releasing audit observations regarding OVP’s confidential expenses.  In response, Lopez admitted that it was Lemuel Ortonio, OVP’s Assistant Chief-of-Staff and chairperson of the agency’s Bids and Awards Committee.

“Respectfully your Honor […] the documents, the attachments, as regards the answer to the AOM was presented and prepared by Mr. Ortonio, it is not incumbent upon me to double-check or to review such documents your Honor,” Lopez said.

“But you signed it.  As lawyers, what was taught in the law school, is that before you sign your death warrant, you read it first,” Acop noted.

Earlier, Lopez was also grilled after she confirmed that she indeed told former Education Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado that she has to resign, having lost Vice President Sara Duterte’s trust and confidence.

Mercado told the same panel during its September 25 hearing that Lopez approached her sometime in October 2023, saying that she should resign from her post.  The former Department of Education (DepEd) official said this happened after she raised concerns regarding the agency’s computerization procurement.

Luistro however reminded Lopez — Duterte’s chief-of-staff — that there are rules that should be followed in terms of deliberating a dismissal order against a government official.  When Lopez said that she informed Mercado of the reasons why she has to resign, Luistro claimed this was not the case.

Mercado said that she asserted that the “procurement must be implemented and conducted in strict adherence to the rules” — which she believes merited Lopez’ message.

READ: Ex-DepEd exec: VP Duterte’s staff asked me to resign over purchase issue 

Duterte however dismissed Mercado’s testimony, saying that the former DepEd official was just a disgruntled employee that was let go from the department for soliciting money from private companies.

READ: Ex-Usec Mercado: No money solicited in official DepEd program 

Mercado however clarified that the the issue raised by Duterte was actually an official government program — a system that would have allowed Duterte to contact teachers wherever she may be.