Sara Duterte impeachment trial set to hear witnesses next week

Two former special disbursing officers (SDOs) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are expected to take the witness stand during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next week, the House prosecution panel said Saturday. Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon, a member of the House prosecution team, made the remark at a news forum in Quezon City. To recall, the Senate impeachment court has ordered OVP SDO Gina Acosta and ex-DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda to testify as it granted the prosecution panel's request for subpoena ad testificandum for the witnesses. Bank managers Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano of state-run Landbank of the Philippines earlier testified that Acosta and Fajarda were the payees of confidential fund checks that were withdrawn in cash. Both Constantino and Composano said such huge cash withdrawals were unusual for government agencies. "We're expecting the hostile witnesses, such as Ms. Acosta and Mr. Fajarda to be present there on Wednesday," Ridon said. "Ine-expect namin uulitin nila ang mga under oath testimony nila sa House committee [on justice]… tungkol sa confidential funds use ng Pangalawang Pangulo." (We expect them to repeat their testimonies under oath to the House committee on justice... regarding the confidential funds of the Vice President.) In his testimony earlier this week, state auditor Roderick Wamil said the OVP and DepEd under Duterte's watch did not submit documentary proof regarding the proper disbursement of over P200 million worth of confidential funds. In fielding Acosta and Fajarda to the witness stand, Ridon said disbursing officers cannot be held solely accountable for the misuse of OVP and DepEd's confidential funds. He said the Head of Agency is accountable for the disbursement of funds for their respective offices. "Ibig sabihin, hindi natin puwedeng iiwas ang Pangalawang Pangulo sa pananagutan sa paggamit ng pera. Hindi natin puwedeng sabihin na Special Disbursement Officer lang ang puwede mong itali sa maling paggamit ng confidential funds… 'di puwedeng sabihin na accountant lang 'yung puwede nating itali sa disbursement of confidentual funds," (This means that we cannot divert the Vice President from accountability in the use of the funds. We cannot say that the Special Disbursing Officer or the accountant carry the sole burden regarding the use of confidential funds.) "Kasi nga sa dulo't dulo 'yung paggamit ng pondo kailangan ng pirma ng Head of Agency. Walang perang lalabas, walang cheke na mai-issue kung walang pirma ng Head of Agency." (Ultimately the use of the funds requires the signature of the Head of Agency. No money can be released, no check can be issued without the signature of the Head of Agency.) House lead prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro of Batangas earlier said that aside from Acosta and Fajarda, the prosecution will also field House of Representatives Legislative Information Resources Management Department director Marivic Pareja as witnesses against the Vice President within August 10 to 12. Another prosecution witness, Supervising State Auditor Xylene Mae del Campo of the Commission on Audit, took the witness stand Wednesday and will continue her testimony next week. — VDV, GMA News