VICE President Sara Z. Duterte’s approval and certifications on Office of the Vice President liquidation records showed her alleged direct documentary involvement in accounting for the agency’s confidential funds, House private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said Monday.
Tolosa made the statement after Commission on Audit auditor Roderick C. Wamil identified Duterte’s signatures on an OVP disbursement voucher, liquidation report, accomplishment report and certification covering its ₱125-million confidential-fund cash advance for the fourth quarter of 2022.
“Well, nakikita naman natin, very straightforward ’yung testimony ng testigo na ito. So that’s why it’s also hard to object,” Tolosa said during a briefing with House trial spokesperson Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list.
Tolosa pointed out that the records being examined did not originate from an outside accuser. They were documents submitted by the OVP itself as part of its confidential-fund liquidation.
“Again, these documents came from them, so very difficult to contest it, pati ’yung mga lahat ng in-identify niya kanina,” he said.
During the hearing, Wamil explained the significance of Duterte’s signatures appearing beneath certifications and the notation “Approved by.”
“Nakita natin na may direct hand ang Vice President dito sa mga liquidation documents na ito. Tinatanong siya: ano ang significance nito kapag may ‘Approved by’ the Vice President or certification niya?” Tolosa said.
Wamil testified that Duterte’s signature on the liquidation report certified that the purpose of the confidential-fund cash advance had been accomplished. Her signature on the accomplishment report signified that she approved its contents, while her attestation on a separate certification indicated confirmation of its contents.
The testimony establishes Duterte’s connection to the documents. It does not, by itself, resolve whether every reported expenditure was lawful or properly supported—questions that remain for the impeachment court to decide after the complete presentation of evidence.
Tolosa said the prosecution was also seeking ways to complete Wamil’s testimony efficiently despite the defense’s refusal to stipulate to more than 800 acknowledgment receipts.
“We will see if we could be allowed to just identify them in batches, meaning hindi na kailangang isa-isahin, or maybe just a sampling of the documents,” he said.
Tolosa said the prosecution’s goal was to complete Wamil’s presentation within the day. The receipts form part of the supporting records for the OVP’s fourth-quarter 2022 liquidation.
Co said the succeeding examination would continue tracing how the confidential funds were reported as used and whether the claimed expenditures complied with Joint Circular No. 2015-01.
“Ang sunod natin na gustong tutukan ay tuluy-tuloy nating ma-track saan ba napunta ’yung confidential and intelligence funds na ito,” Co said.
She cited millions of pesos reportedly allocated for medicines and housing-related expenses as matters the prosecution intended to compare with the circular’s enumerated allowable uses.
“May mga paunang tanong si Atty. Lorna Kapunan, gaya ng mga millions na nakalagay supposedly for medicines or even for housing. Nandoon ba ’yan sa in-enumerate ng Joint Memorandum Circular na puwedeng paggastahan ng confidential and intelligence funds?” Co asked.
The governing circular permits confidential spending only for specified purposes. Wamil had testified that ₱40 million reported for medical and food aid was not among those allowable uses, while reported rewards required documentary proof of successful information-gathering or surveillance.
Co said the common documents and the witness’s straightforward explanation provided a clear route for examining the transactions.
“Dahil nga po ito ay mga dokumentong may common stipulations naman, hindi po mahirap makita at matunton ang katotohanan,” Co said.
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