THE Filipino people were allegedly “budol” after public money entrusted to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte for confidential operations allegedly ended up in transactions that failed to comply with government rules.
House impeachment trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the confidential fund could have allowed the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to become a meaningful partner in combating terrorism and lawless elements.
“Kasi kami nabudol e, taong bayan ang nabudol e, ipinagkatiwala sa kanya itong confidential funds. For the first time in Philippine history that a vice president would intervene or would engage the office in fighting lawless elements in our streets,” Alonto Adiong stressed in a press conference Monday after the trial.
Former Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office state auditor Roderick Wamil festified before the Senate Impeachment Court Monday that OVP classified ₱40M in medical and food aid as confidential expenses despite not being allowed by Joint Circular No. 2015-01, and failed to submit required proof supporting reported rewards to informers.
Wamil also told the Senate Impeachment Court that the OVP reported ₱10 million in confidential-fund spending for “incentives or traveling expenses” without submitting a document supporting the disbursement.
During Monday’s trial, ten more names aside from the controversial “Mary Grace Piattos” surfaced Monday at the Senate impeachment trial of Duterte as the House prosecution presented acknowledgment receipts submitted by OVP to liquidate confidential funds.
The additional names presented in court were Renan Piattos, Nova Santos, Mico P. Harina, Janice Marie Revilla, Patty Ting, Andy Lim, Alejandro Pikit, Feonna Biong, Sisfrunio Balsac and Gabriel Bisaya.
Article I accuses VP Duterte of misusing, misappropriating and irregularly liquidating P500 million in OVP confidential funds and P112.5 million released through the Department of Education.
“This was the first time. Maganda sana itong panimula kung maayos na-implementa ang confidential funds,” Alonto Adiong noted.
The allocation offered the OVP an opportunity to support agencies directly mandated to protect national security and maintain peace and order.
“Unfortunately the opposite has spoken the what happened. It’s the opposite that actually we saw na ang ICFAO lumabas sila ng mga ganitong klaseng reports,” Alonto Adiong explained.
The prosecution cited audit findings involving questionable acknowledgment receipts, unsupported purchases and expenses that allegedly fell outside the exclusive purposes allowed under Joint Circular No. 2015-01.
“But unfortunately, when she was entrusted with these funds she did not make use of it in order to pursue the agenda of fighting corruption. But dun po napunta kina Mico Harina,” Alonto Adiong maintained.
“Duon napunta kay Mary Grace Piattos. Duon napunta sa pagbibigay rewards sa mga chairs and tables,” he added.
“Duon napunta sa pagbibigay reward sa medisina na klaro na labag sa Joint Circular ng COA,” Alonto Adiong stressed.
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