House committee investigates P612.5 million in confidential funds under vp Sara Duterte

The investigation, which resumed on November 5, has sparked a larger conversation on government transparency and accountability as lawmakers question whether the funds were properly utilized.

Rep. Joel Chua, Chairman of the committee, presented the figures, which include P500 million for the OVP and P112.5 million for DepEd.

The funds, spanning a two-year period, have been flagged for their “improper” and “unexplained” expenditures. Chua stressed that these figures highlighted the need for clearer explanations of how such large amounts were spent and whether the public’s money had been used responsibly.

“Sa totoo lang, P612.5 million ang kabuuang confidential funds ang ibinigay sa OVP at DepEd sa loob ng dalawang taon. Nasaan na ngayon ang P612.5 million? Sino ang gumastos nito at para saan ito ginastos?” Chua questioned during the hearing.

Chua’s inquiry into the spending of P612.5 million follows earlier audits by the Commission on Audit (COA), which flagged P125 million in OVP spending in just 11 days in December 2022.

COA found P73.3 million of this amount to be irregular and disallowed it, ordering repayment from the Vice President and other OVP officials. Additionally, the COA issued Audit Observation Memorandums in 2023, which revealed further concerns over how the funds were used throughout the year.

One of the most controversial expenditures under scrutiny was the P16 million spent by the OVP to rent 34 safe houses in just 11 days. This expenditure was questioned for its lack of clear documentation and justification. Chua called attention to the unexplained spending, suggesting that the funds were used in a manner that seemed “improper.”

“Marahil, pwede nang masabing improper ang gamit sa confidential funds ng mga ahensiyang ito….Upang mas mabigyan pa tayo ng linaw, nararapat na masagot ang katanungang ito: anong nangyari sa pera ng taong bayan?” Chua said.

Another troubling development involved P15 million allocated by DepEd for youth leadership summits and anti-extremism programs, which were reportedly justified through certifications from Philippine Army battalions. However, Army officials later denied issuing such certifications, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the spending.

Chua also emphasized that the OVP received a total of P625 million in confidential funds for the last months of 2022 and all of 2023, with COA specifically reviewing P500 million of this amount. The audit uncovered significant irregularities, contributing to the mounting concerns over the funds’ misuse.

During the investigation, Chua noted that Vice President Duterte had only attended the first hearing, where she refused to take an oath and left early. While the committee has refrained from citing Duterte in contempt due to her high-ranking position, Chua expressed disappointment over the absence of key figures involved in the disbursement of the confidential funds.

“We are hoping that the people responsible for this mess will come forward and explain themselves,” Chua remarked.

He noted that COA has been a major resource in the hearings, with only a handful of officials having testified so far.