Rep. Castro: VP Duterte’s misuse of confidential funds is an impeachable offense

August 30, 2024 , 06:01 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(August 30, 2024) – ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro cited on Friday the misuse of confidential funds as grounds for impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte in the recent budget deliberations for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

She lamented Duterte’s refusal to answer the questions on how the OVP spent the controversial P125-million confidential funds in 2022. The vice president claimed it was used to conduct “surveillance” in 132 areas.

“Her stonewalling on legitimate questions from members of the House regarding her use of public funds showed utter disrespect for the basic principles of check-and-balance, transparency, and accountability of public officials entrusted with the people’s money, all of which are enshrined in the Constitution that she swore to uphold,” said Castro in a media release.

Last Tuesday, Castro revealed that the notice of disallowance issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the more than P73 million confidential expenses of the OVP in 11 days.

COA assistant commissioner Alexander Juliano explained that the notice of disallowance is issued if state auditors find the expenditure to be “either irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable.”

The COA disallowed the P73.287 million used for cash, goods, and medicines since the OVP failed to prove the success of the surveillance operations.

“’Di naman pwedeng gagawa ng kalokohan tapos pababayaan na lang, dapat may accountability. Her misuse of confidential funds is an impeachable offense,” added Castro. “Sa paglulustay ng confidential funds, sa panahong kulang na kulang ang pondo para sa serbisyong publiko, at sa pagtangging ipaliwanag ito sa taumbayan, malinaw na may batayan ang impeachment.”

Recently, former senator Leila de Lima also brought up the possibility of impeaching Duterte-Carpio due to her behavior, saying it was a “logical recourse” if the House granted her office one peso or significantly slashed its budget.

Naglabas ng pahayag si dating senador Leila de Lima sa ukol sa naging pag-uugali ni Vice Pres. Sara Duterte sa harap ng House Committee on Appropriations na aniya’y hindi pa nakikita sa buong kasaysayan ng Kongreso. #News5 pic.twitter.com/z071WMq1Nw
— News5 (@News5PH) August 29, 2024

“Of course, the House can also impeach her for betrayal of public trust since her disregard for the constitutional provisions on public accountability and the appropriation process which involves public funds seems wilful and deliberate, and not simply due to her gross ignorance of the Constitution and the law,” she said in a statement.

Instead of responding to the inquiries, Duterte hurled personal attacks against Castro, especially bringing up her recent child abuse conviction. She also quarreled with several lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

ALSO READ: Netizens blast Sara’s ‘pusit’ behavior during OVP budget hearing

“It’s becoming apparent that Duterte was banking on the supposed veil of secrecy around confidential funds to hide her unlawful use of people’s money. This is a clear betrayal of public trust,” noted Castro.

The House Committee on Appropriations decided to defer the OVP’s budget temporarily and scheduled another hearing on September 10.

(With reports from Marianne Enriquez, News5)

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