ADDITIONAL testimony and documentary evidence gathered during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte could be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman to supplement congressional findings on her alleged misuse of confidential funds and other possible offenses, according to a public prosecutor.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua said the House prosecution panel is prepared to provide records developed during the impeachment proceedings, particularly materials that were not yet available when the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability transmitted its earlier findings to the Ombudsman in 2024.
“So kung meron man, siguro ‘yung mga naging testigo na lamang dito po sa impeachment, at ‘yung mga additional documents, ‘yun na po ‘yung maisusumite namin,” Chua explained.
The disclosure followed the prosecution’s withdrawal of three articles of impeachment against Duterte on October 13, a move that narrowed the Senate trial to alleged unexplained wealth but did not terminate separate investigations into the confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
The questioned allocations totaled P612.5 million, consisting of P500 million for the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million for the Department of Education, both of which Duterte headed during the periods under scrutiny.
“Pagdating naman sa confidential fund, tsaka sa bribery case, noong 2024, tayo po ay nagsumite na sa Office of the Ombudsman ng committee report,” Chua recalled.
The House committee previously investigated the disbursement of confidential funds, examining liquidation records, acknowledgment receipts and testimony concerning the identities of individuals listed as recipients of the funds.
Chua explained that the prosecution is prepared to cooperate with the Ombudsman but is awaiting the agency’s formal communication concerning whatever additional records it may require.
“Inaantay na lamang po namin ‘yung formal na request, pero kung maalala po ninyo, ito pong grave threat, e kasalukuyang dinudulog na po ito sa RTC, sa Quezon City,” Chua disclosed.
The grave threats allegations are already the subject of separate criminal proceedings before a Quezon City court, where Duterte posted bail in September, although her scheduled Oct. 9 arraignment was subsequently postponed amid pending defense motions.
“Well, in so far, at yung impeachment is concerned. Oo, hindi naman natin sinasabi na yung accountability ay wala na,” Chua maintained.
The lawmaker pointed to the Commission on Audit’s October ruling affirming the disallowance of P73.287 million in confidential expenses of the Office of the Vice President because of insufficient supporting documentation, a decision Duterte’s legal team has said it intends to challenge before the Supreme Court.
“E ang hinihingi lang naman ng COA sa kanila, simple lang, OR. Resibo na talagang totoo, binili ninyo yung mga gamot, yung mga goods na sinasabi ninyo na pinagamitan ninyo ng confidential fund,” Chua stressed.
“Pero could you imagine, two years na, wala naman silang naisusumiteng resibo?” Chua asked, reiterating his criticism of the documentation supporting the questioned expenditures.
metrosundaily
