Ombudsman asks Duterte, OVP and Deped officials to answer alleged confidential fund misuse

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has asked Vice President Sara Duterte and other officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to respond to a House panel’s complaints on her alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires confirmed on Thursday, June 19 that he issued the order directing Duterte to file her counter-affidavits to the complaints.

The House good government and public accountability committee, chaired by Manila Rep. Joel Chua, has recommended the filing of charges against Duterte including plunder, bribery, perjury, and malversation.

Based on the confirmed document, the complainant is the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability, represented by its chairperson. House spokesperson Princess Abante questioned it.

She clarified that the House did not file a complaint but the chamber submitted its recommendations to the Ombudsman.

“Ang ginawa lang kasi ng House is to furnish them of the committee report. Kaya gusto ko munang tignan mabuti sa’n nanggaling ‘yung pag-identify na ang House ‘yung complainant,” Abante said in a press briefing.

[Translation: What the House did is to furnish them a copy of the committee report. That’s why I want to determine first where the identification of the House as a complainant came from.]

During the hearings, lawmakers flagged questionable acknowledgement receipts which have dubious names, similar handwriting of different recipients, and without signatures, among other issues.

Some OVP and DepEd officials have also admitted they received extra cash in envelopes on top of their salary. Duterte was the education chief from 2022 to 2024.

READ: Ex-DepEd official bares extra money; Duterte bucks claim

The committee’s findings are among the basis as to why the House impeached Duterte last February.