Asia-Pacific Newsweek
December 10, 2024
Manila – Officials suspected of irregularities in the use of confidential funds from Vice President Sara Duterte’s office and the Department of Education (DepEd) under her administration could face looting charges and other complaints.
During the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Akop and Batangas Rep. Gervais Luistro exposed the CF-related crimes of several officials in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education. offense.
The panel is investigating alleged misuse of funds in two offices under Duterte.
“Let me remind the public what is at stake here: if public funds are misused or misappropriated, or worse, if funds are diverted for personal use or gain, this would amount to embezzlement and corruption. Considering that we are here The amount of money that is being talked about, this is clearly looting,” Akop said in his opening statement.
During a hearing on November 25 last year, two OVP officials admitted to releasing millions of dollars worth of CF to security official Colonel Dennis Nolasco and the head of Duterte's security team, Colonel Raymund Lachica.
OVP Special Disbursement Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta revealed that she left all CFs to Lachica, who was responsible for managing the funds.
Likewise, former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda said he released the funds to Nolasco, who was assigned by Duterte to disburse the funds.
Between late 2022 and 2023, Acosta will cash out 125 million pesos per quarter, while Fajada will cash out 37.5 million pesos per season in 2023.
Acop noted that the manner in which the funds were disbursed was “in direct violation of Board of Auditors-Department of Budget and Management Joint Notice 2015-01,” which requires strict record-keeping and clear accountability for classified and intelligence funds.
Likewise, Luistro mentions plunder, but proposes other crimes such as perjury and bribery.
“In addition to the offenses our respected colleagues have already raised, perjury can also be raised orally or in writing. If it is done orally, I think the perfect example or illustration would be a misrepresentation in the course of an investigation to assist legislation,” she said explain.
“[A]Even though in all forms of investigations we are sworn under oath ang lahat ng pagsisinungaling (lying under oath), again we call it perjury, the best example of oral perjury is when the consultant who appeared in this investigation was making Some crimes are committed when making false statements,” she further explained.
For his part, Rep. Gil Bangalon, a member of the Akobicol Party, pointed out the alleged violations committed by officials such as technical fraud under the Revised Penal Code.
The impeachment complaint stems from her threats to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and two of his family members. The vice president specifically said she commissioned someone to kill Marcos, his wife, First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualz to prevent her eventual death.
In addition to this, Duterte and Lachica are currently facing direct attacks, disobedience to those in authority, and serious coercion complaints filed with the Department of Justice.
“In simple terms, this means that the responsible person uses public funds for other purposes. Even if it is a public purpose, it is different from the purpose originally assigned by law or regulation. In other words, someone else benefits from the public's money,” he explained.
Bangalon added that if the responsible official cannot explain where public funds are going, he or she may be committing fraud.
“Kapag hinanap sayo kung nasaan 'yung fund or nasaan napunta at wala kang masagot, legal presumption na binulsa mo,” he stressed.
(If they ask where the funds went and you can't answer, the law assumes you kept the funds.)
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel explained the falsification of public documents by referring to Mary Grace Piattos and Kokoy Kokoy Villamin’s name was not found in Philippine Statistics Authority records.
“Mr. Chairman, this is obviously a forgery,” he said.
Pimentel also said: “When public officials, Turad Pang A Maga resource persons took advantage of their positions and resources during the Nambita Noon Nacala Maga hearing, Forgery occurs when a document is forged.
(Forgery is when a public official, such as the consultant we invited at a previous hearing, uses their position to falsify documents.)
Duterte is facing two impeachment charges filed by civil society organizations and Bayan organizations on December 2 and 4 respectively.
