SARA FACES GRAFT RAPS
VICE President Sara Duterte may be liable for graft if she cannot justify P73.2 million in intelligence expenses disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA), and supposed P12.3 billion in similar “disallowances and suspensions” in the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2023.
This is according to House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe who urged the COA to make a final report soon on the questionable disbursements, together with its recommendations.
“More than just allegations of mismanagement, she may be held liable for graft, for possible violation of the anti-graft laws, if she cannot adequately explain and justify the adverse findings, and if the COA does not accept her explanations and justifications,” Dalipe said.
As it is, he said the COA has been asking VP Duterte tor return the P73.2 million disallowed from her spending of P125 million in intelligence funds that were used up in just 11 days, or P11.36 million a day, he said.
Dalipe said the audit commission has been similarly requiring her, as education secretary, and other DepEd officials to allegedly repay the government of P12.3 billion in expenses that were of doubtful legality and validity.
The Vice President served as DepEd secretary at the start of the Marcos administration until she resigned last July 19.
In its audit of the P125-million intelligence fund of the Office of the Vice President, the COA noted several irregularities, including late submission of liquidation reports, irregularities in notarization dates and the failure to submit required accomplishment reports to pertinent offices in a timely manner.
