A COALITION of civil society organizations has lodged formal complaints of plunder, bribery, malversation, and graft against Vice President Sara Duterte and several officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
The complaints, filed before the Ombudsman, center on allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
The complainants include prominent figures such as Fr. Flavie Villanueva, a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay awardee, and former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno, who are spearheading the effort to hold the officials accountable.
“We are here today to ensure transparency and accountability in public service,” said Fr. Villanueva during a press conference following the filing. “The alleged misuse of these funds is a grave betrayal of public trust and must be thoroughly investigated.”
The complaints detail alleged irregularities in the allocation and utilization of the confidential funds, claiming that the funds were used for purposes outside the scope of national security and intelligence activities, which is the intended use of such funds. The complainants are calling for a full and impartial investigation by the Ombudsman to determine the extent of the alleged misuse and to bring those responsible to justice.
Former Undersecretary Magno emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly. “The public has a right to know how their money is being spent,” she stated. “We trust that the Ombudsman will act swiftly and decisively on these complaints.”
The Vice President’s office has yet to issue an official statement regarding the complaints. However, this is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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