THE House Committee on Justice started an important part of the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, with Rep. Leila de Lima stating that the investigation can no longer be ignored as just rumors or political noise because the remaining complaints are based on real documents, audit results, and serious claims that need to be looked into.
In her opening statement, De Lima made it clear: “The complaints we have are based on documents, audit findings, and a clear pattern of actions that raise serious constitutional issues.” She then pointed out that the committee’s main focus is to clarify the use or misuse of confidential funds.
De Lima said the Saballa et al. complaint presents a clear story, showing a series of actions that suggest the possible misuse and abuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, where she served as secretary.
She stressed that the matter before the House is not a one-time anomaly but a chain of transactions that, taken together, raises deeper questions about how public money was used. “Hindi po iisang disbursement lamang ang ating pinag-uusapan. Hindi ito isolated incident lamang, kundi sunod-sunod at mag-kakaugnay ng mga transactions na kailangan siya sa atin ng masusig.”
She then pointed to the specific portions of the complaint that, in her words, contain the “ultimate facts” on the alleged misuse of confidential funds. “In particular, in paragraphs 22 to 71, and 142 to 255 of the Saballa et al. complaint, nakasaada mga ultimate facts tungkol sa maling paggamit ng confidential funds ng Office of the President.” She added: “Sa paragraph 72 to 91, and 256 to 267 of the Saballa complaint naman po, nakalahad mga ultimate facts tungkol sa maling pag-gamit ng confidential funds ng Department of Education.”
To show why those allegations matter, De Lima cited the complaint’s account of disbursements in December 2022. “Halimbawa po, sa paragraphs 198 to 204 of the Saballa complaint, inilahad na sa loob lamang ng mga araw mula December 13 hanggang December 31, 2022, mahigit isang daang confidential activities ang sinasabing pinundohan at nagresulta sa aktual na paglabas ng confidential funds.”
She continued: “Partikular, Madam Chair, on December 23, 2022, more than 100 recipients allegedly got a total amount exceeding P15 million. At kinabukasan, December 24, 2022, 40 recipients ang sinasabing tumanggap naman ng mahigit P5 million.”
For De Lima, the significance lies in the pattern. She said the complaint points to “mga sunud-sunod na transaksyon na may malalaking halaga,” the use of “mga pangalang hindi mapatunayan o kaduda-duda,” “defectitious or unverifiable identities,” and a “kakulangan ng ebidensya ng proper disbursement in accordance with established guidelines.” Taken together, she said, “what emerges is not a simple irregularity but a pattern that raises serious questions not only on the use but more importantly on the possible misuse and abuse of public funds.”
De Lima also flagged the other issue clusters in the Saballa complaint that require close review: “ultimate facts on bribery as explained in paragraphs 92 to 99 and 268 to 280,” “unexplained wealth as explained in paragraphs 107 to 109 and 285 to 290,” and “destabilization and threats as explained in paragraphs 136 to 141 and 281 to 284.”
Related to those issues, she said the committee had also invited representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
At the center of De Lima’s statement was the public character of the funds in question. “Malinaw po dapat sa ating lahat ang confidential funds na pinag-uusapan natin ay pera ng taong bayan. Mahigit 600 million pesos po ito na’y pinagkatiwala kay Vice President.”
She added, “Kaya kapag may aligasyon ng maling paggamit ng pondo hindi po ito maliit na bagay. Hindi ito simpleng technical or accounting issue or just deficiencies in documentary requirements. This is a matter of public trust. Ito ay usapin ng pananagutan sa taong bayan.”
De Lima closed by drawing a firm line between inquiry and judgment. “Let us be clear, sabi nga po ng ating Chair, we are not here today to prejudge or to determine already the guilt or innocence of the respondent. Hindi po tayo narito upang agad magdeklara ng pagkakasala. We are here because the Constitution commands us to act.”
“Today is about accountability to the Filipino people,” De Lima stressed.
