Defense must prove Sara Duterte didn’t pocket secret funds

MANILA, Philippines — Following a state auditor’s testimony that the failure to liquidate confidential funds (CF) is presumed to be initial evidence of personal use, a lawyer said the defense panel now bears the burden of proving that Vice President Sara Duterte did not personally benefit from the funds. In an online press briefing on Thursday, a lawyer stated that according to the state auditor’s testimony, when confidential funds are not liquidated, it is presumed to be initial evidence of personal use. Therefore, the defense panel for Vice President Sara Duterte will now have the responsibility to prove that she did not personally benefit from these funds. This issue reflects the growing concern for transparency and accountability in Philippine politics. Public funds, especially those designated as confidential, are under close scrutiny by the public, and strict explanations are always required regarding their use. While confidential funds, by their nature, may sometimes be difficult to disclose in detail, adherence to the law and maintaining public trust are still essential in their management. This case highlights the challenges in the management of public funds in the Philippines, particularly in ensuring the transparency of highly confidential funds. The outcome of the upcoming legal proceedings, and the legal decisions that will be made, could set an important precedent for the nature of accountability in Philippine governance.