THE House prosecution may wrap up its presentation of evidence on Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds by next week as it moves closer to completing the first Article of Impeachment, House prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua said Tuesday.
“In any event, masasabi natin baka by next week matatapos na, hopefully, ang confidential fund and we will move on to the next article,” Chua said at a press briefing after the 20th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Chua said only a few witnesses are expected to remain after the prosecution presents its witness from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
“Well, siguro ang natitira na lamang, kung sakasakaling bukas ay maipresenta ’yung PSA, ang natitira na lamang si Mr. Edward Fajarda and probably isa. O siguro at most dalawa,” he said.
“Mamaya pag-uusapan pa namin, or ipa-finalize namin tomorrow,” he added.
Fajarda served as special disbursing officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary and handled its confidential funds.
Chua said the prosecution would also no longer present two other military officers whose testimony was expected to cover substantially the same points already addressed by Colonels Manaros Boransing II and Magtangol Panopio.
“Meron na kaming dalawang testigo na ipinresenta base sa parehas na punto, at ganoon din naman ang ipupunto ng dalawa, kaya hindi na ipi-present ’yung dalawa,” he said.
Chua said the prosecution was already satisfied with the evidence presented concerning the Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) and military certifications that figured in DepEd’s accounting for its confidential funds.
Boransing and Panopio testified Tuesday on certifications covering YLS and information education communication activities that DepEd submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA) in connection with P15.54 million in confidential funds allegedly spent on rewards.
Boransing testified that his 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division received no DepEd funds for the activities covered by his certification.
Panopio, meanwhile, said he was surprised to learn that his certification, which was meant to confirm that YLS activities took place, was used as a supporting document by DepEd.
“Hindi po namin sine-certify anything about money or funds, Your Honor,” Panopio told the impeachment court.
The defense also stipulated that no confidential funds were transferred from DepEd to the Philippine Army or Armed Forces of the Philippines for the YLS and information education communication activities covered by the certifications.
The prosecution is presenting evidence under Article I, which accuses Duterte of offenses arising from the alleged misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
The amount consists of P500 million released to the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million to DepEd.
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