By: Izza Belle Basubas
Vice President Sara Duterte faces possible impeachment due to unauthorized expenditures amounting to Php 125 Million under "confidential funds." Photo courtesy of Business World.
Members of the Makabayan bloc targets to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged unauthorized use of confidential funds for Duterte’s office in 2022.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent Php 125 million confidential funds (CF) in 2022 even without congressional authorization, based on the budget briefing of the Commission on Audit (COA).
In a statement, Vice President Sara Duterte said she will welcome possible investigation to her office in regards with the allegation of CF in 2022.
Lawmakers demand Duterte to explain how she could incur obligations amounting to Php 125 million in confidential expenses in the last six months of 2022 despite the fact that her office has no congressional authorization to do so for that year.
Vice President Sara Duterte responded to the allegation saying Castro doesn't deserve an explanation.
"All she did was wildly and masterfully arrange some allegations against me and the OVP, which will all be answered once the probe is done and during the budget hearing," Duterte said.
"Meanwhile, I hope she finds gratification and great joy over the thought of my impeachment from office. Enjoy," she added
Castro said in a conference, a possible impeachment will be studied to hold the Office of the Vice President accountable for misuse of public funds and violations of the constitution as they wait for the investigation report of the Commission on Audit (COA).
The Commission on Audit report confirmed the OVP’s budget emerged at Php 947.1 million at the end of 2022, up from the original Php 713.4 million allocated in Republic Act No.: 11936, or the General Appropriations Act of 2022.
COA said the increase in confidential expenses is allotted for maintenance and other operating expenses, including various projects and activities under the Good Governance program and the conduct of official engagements, and functional representation in international and domestic events as instructed by the President.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. has also been allegedly pinpointed as the approving authority for Duterte’s additional funds. Malacañang is yet to respond regarding the case in question.