House panel grants furlough to 4 OVP execs

MANILA, Philippines — The four Office of the Vice President (OVP) officials cited for contempt by the House committee on good government and public accountability were granted a furlough in exchange for their commitment to attend the panel’s next hearing on Friday.

Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano made the motion during the committee’s hearing, which ended early Tuesday morning.

“Mr. Chair, because they voluntarily appeared in today’s hearing, may I move to grant Mr. Lemel Ortonio (Assistant Chief of Staff and Chair of the Bids and Awards Committee), Ms. Sunshine Fajarda (former Department of Education Assistant Secretary), Ms. Gina Acosta (Special Disbursing Officer), and Mr. Edward Fajarda (former DepEd SDO) to be granted the furlough. So moved, Mr. Chairman,” he said.

READ: VP Sara told: Enough with the drama, face OVP fund probe

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin seconded his motion.

Aside from Paduano, nine other committee members voted unanimously for the furlough of the four.

The four officials’ presence is believed to be key for the committee’s investigation regarding the alleged misuse of public funds by offices under Vice President Sara Duterte—the OVP and, previously, the DepEd.

During the Monday hearing, Fajarda and Acosta revealed that a security officer and OVP’s security chief were designated to disburse the confidential funds (CF) of Duterte’s office and the DepEd.

Fajarda identified the security officer as Col. Dennis Nolasco, while Acosta named the OVP security chief as Col. Raymund Dante Lachica—Duterte reportedly assigned both to manage the CF.

To further shed light on the matter, the panel has invited Nolasco to the next hearing.