Prosecution Tags Sara Duterte as Alleged Mastermind of 'Confi Scam'

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution team on Friday accused Vice President Sara Duterte of being the alleged mastermind behind the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), describing the alleged scheme as a “confi scam.” Prosecution team adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers made the accusation during a press conference, as he and fellow spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong presented evidence supporting Article I of Duterte’s impeachment case. “Isang modus na kailangang ilantad, isang pananagutan kailangang harapin at isang pangalang ibinibigay namin sa mga alegasyong ito. Ito ay ‘confi scam,’” Barbers said. “At ang diumano’y mastermind ng operasyon nito ay walang iba kundi si Vice President Sara Duterte,” he added. The P612.5 million covered P500 million in confidential funds under the OVP and P112.5 million under DepEd. Barbers said the prosecution traced the movement of the funds through various offices, documents and personnel and found what it described as a recurring pattern that allegedly led back to Duterte. “Iba-ibang ahensya pero iisa lang ang modus operandi,” Barbers said. “Sa pagsunod ng daloy ng pera, lahat ng umano’y maanomalyang daan hinggil sa confidential funds ay patungo sa pintuan ni VP Sara Duterte. Kumbaga, all roads lead to Sara Duterte,” he added. Barbers said the prosecution was seeking to establish not only the identities of those who physically withdrew, carried or received the money but also who allegedly directed the operation. “Huwag tayong tumigil sa nagbitbit ng bag. Sundan natin kung sino ang nag-utos,” he said. “Sa isang scam, puwedeng ibang tao ang mag-withdraw. Ibang tao ang magdala ng bag at ibang tao ang maghanda ng paperless. Pero ang dapat matukoy ay ang scammer na nag-direkta ng operasyon.” Barbers said the prosecution’s evidence showed that cash withdrawn by special disbursing officers (SDOs) was turned over to security personnel, followed by disbursements and liquidation documents that were questioned during the impeachment trial. For the OVP, then-SDO Gina Acosta testified that she encashed four P125-million checks and turned over the money to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica upon Duterte’s instruction. The DepEd confidential funds were withdrawn through three P37.5-million checks encashed by SDO Edward Fajarda. The prosecution has linked the subsequent handling of the cash to Col. Dennis Nolasco. Barbers said the prosecution was looking beyond those who physically handled the money. “Sa kasong inilalatag ng prosecution, si Sara Duterte ang tinuturong utak ng operasyon,” he said. “Isang modus, iisa ang boss. Si Sara Duterte umano ang utak ng operasyon.” Barbers stressed that the accusations are the prosecution’s allegations and that the Senate impeachment court will ultimately determine the case based on the evidence presented by both sides. Duterte has denied the charges against her. “Confidential ang operation, hindi dapat takasan ang pananagutan,” Barbers said. “Totoong pera ang inilabas, totoong sagot ang dapat marinig at ibalik sa taong-bayan.”