DOJ urged to issue lookout bulletin vs OVP officials

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A House of Representatives’ panel has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a lookout bulletin against officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in relation to the alleged misuse of government funds under Vice President Sara Duterte’s watch.

Good government and public accountability panel chair and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said he requested after he received information that the following OVP officials may be preparing to leave the country:

• 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

The request also came after subpoenas were issued against the OVP officials for their repeated absences from previous House hearings.

“Considering these developments, I earnestly request your office to issue a Lookout Bulletin Order against these personalities,” Chua said, citing his letter addressed to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“This action is imperative to monitor their movements and prevent any potential attempt to flee the country, which could significantly hinder our investigation and broader efforts to uphold the integrity of public service,” he added.

Chua also pointed out the importance of the testimonies of the OVP officials in the committee’s ongoing probe, which started with a privilege speech by Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, accusing Duterte of fund mismanagement based on findings by the Commission on Audit (COA).

“COA disallowed over P73 million of the P125 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP in 2022—amounting to nearly 60 percent of the total,” his statement read.

“Even more alarming, COA reported that this amount was spent within just 11 days, from December 21 to 31, 2022, averaging over P11 million per day,” it added. “In its Notice of Disallowance, COA ordered Duterte, along with Acosta and Villadelrey as accountable officials, to return the disallowed P73 million to the government.”

INQUIRER.net sought the OVP’s side, but it has yet to reply as of posting time.