VP Sara, 4 OVP officials cited for contempt appear at House probe into confidential funds

MANILA, Philippines — After snubbing the past six hearings, four of the Office of the Vice President’s officials appeared on Monday, November 25, at the House probe into the agency’s alleged misuse of confidential funds. 

Vice President Sara Duterte attended the hearing and took her oath, after having previously refused to do so during the first hearing on September 18.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability previously cited these four officials in contempt twice, ordered their detention and warned them of criminal and administrative charges should they skip another hearing: 

They previously excused themselves, citing official travel to “various areas” for the OVP’s “thanksgiving anniversary.”

During the sixth hearing on November 20, Landbank officials informed the committee that Acosta withdrew the OVP’s P500 million in confidential funds, while Edward withdrew DepEd’s P112.5 million. 

Both withdrawals were made over the counter, and the funds were stored in duffel bags as part of their duties as special disbursing officers.

Lawmakers also argued it was impossible for Edward to deliver rewards for confidential information and payments for safehouse rentals to 26 locations nationwide in a single day — a reason cited in the certification submitted to the Commission on Audit.

Other OVP officials who have been present since November 11 barely had anything to disclose about the confidential funds, saying they have “no personal knowledge” of how it was spent. 

Neither the OVP’s administrative and financial services director, chief administrative officer, chief accountant, or budget division officer provided concrete information on the P500 million confidential funds. 

All they shared were the names of those they believed would likely have knowledge of the confidential expenses: Acosta and Duterte’s long-time aide and current Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez.

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Lopez, however, echoed a similar position, saying that the OVP operates with a “compartmentalized” structure. She explained that this structure means there is no single hierarchy, and even as chief of staff, not all