Sara Duterte trial: Prosecution paints picture of accountability, not regret

In the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, the prosecution on its 12th day aimed to weave a narrative of accountability, not regret. Lawyer Lorna Kapunan told reporters that the alleged misuse of confidential funds by Duterte’s offices was a "scam that defrauds the public" worth P612.5 million, urging public understanding. Kapunan, in her direct examination of state auditor Roderick Wamil, highlighted that under a joint circular governing confidential funds, repeated deficiencies in documentation and liquidation by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) led to a "presumption that the fund was converted into personal use or benefit." She declared this was not "prima facie evidence" and, "If you ask me, this is a scam," drawing protests from Duterte’s counsel. Prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Norte 1st District Representative Zia Alonto-Adiong stated that Kapunan’s remarks spoke directly to the people, narrating a story of alleged abuse of public funds in an understandable way. He clarified that the trial focuses not on the speed of spending or the recipients of supposed rewards, but on how the money was spent. Wamil detailed the audit findings regarding the OVP and DepEd’s confidential funds for 2022 and 2023, noting deficiencies in their paperwork. The Commission on Audit’s (COA) ruling on P73 million disallowed in 2022 confidential funds is final, while a notice of disallowance for P375 million in 2023 funds is not yet final. The prosecution countered arguments on social media suggesting confidential funds should not be questioned due to their nature, emphasizing the need to comply with established procedures. Representative Ace Barbers, a spokesperson for the prosecution, expressed concern that the narrative might not reach all sectors of society, particularly the poor, and stressed the importance of dominating social media to counter the defense's narrative. Wamil is expected to return to the witness stand, and the prosecution may present another COA auditor as their next witness.