House panel to wrap up probe into alleged P612.5M confi fund ‘misuse’
As impeachment process looms
THE House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, is set to conclude its investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Committee chair Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua announced on Sunday that panel members will meet on Monday to finalize the probe on confidential funds, ahead of a possible impeachment process where the Vice President is expected to address the same allegations.
“Bukas (Monday) po, mga miyembro na lamang ang mag-uusap-usap, kami po ay magra-wrap up na (confidential funds) at isa-summarize kung ano ang mga nangyari,” Chua told radio program Bantay Balita sa Kongreso sa Dobol B hosted by Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño Umali over dzBB Sunday.
With two impeachment complaints already filed against the Vice President, Chua said the committee decided to leave the confidential funds.
“May mga nagpa-file na rin po ng impeachment sa ating Bise Presidente kaya minarapat po namin na i-wrap up na rin ito (confidential funds),” he explained.
Chua said the committee has already fulfilled its mandate of investigating the confidential funds in aid of legislation, with several measures ready for submission this coming week.
He clarified that the impeachment process is the proper venue to address the complaints and allegations on confidential funds against the Vice President.
“Nevertheless, ito naman kasi saka-sakaling tutuloy ang impeachment process ay hahayaan na namin na sa impeachment na sagutin ang mga katanungan sa ating Bise Presidente,” Chua said.
Chua said that his committee’s findings, now on record, would be made available to the House Committee on Justice in the event they are needed for deliberation on the impeachment complaints.
After seven hearings, the committee uncovered extensive irregularities in the handling of P500 million in confidential funds by the OVP, spent between late 2022 and the third quarter of 2023, and P112.5 million allocated to the DepEd in 2023.
Chua said the committee initially planned to invite and question the two security officials in a hearing but decided against it after learning that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had launched its own internal investigation into their involvement.
“Napag-alaman namin na iniimbestigahan na rin sila ng AFP. Kaya hahayaan namin ang AFP na mag-conduct ng kanilang sariling investigation dahil sakop nila ito,” Chua explained.
Other significant findings of the committee include falsified acknowledgment receipts allegedly signed by fictitious individuals such as “Mary Grace Piattos” who were listed as recipients of confidential funds. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) found no records of these names, suggesting they may be fictitious.
It was also revealed that the OVP spent P16 million to rent 34 safe houses for just 11 days in late 2022, with one safe house costing nearly P91,000 per day.
The OVP further claimed to have allocated P15 million for youth leadership summits supposedly conducted with the Philippine Army.
However, military officials denied receiving funds, stating the events were funded by the military and local government units, raising suspicions of misrepresentation fabrication of activities to justify fund utilization.
