House team: Secret funds misuse accusation against VP Duterte to be proven

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began the presentation of evidence in support of the accusation that Vice President Sara Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential funds. They anchored Article I of the four articles of impeachment on the argument that the confidential nature of such funds is no excuse for alleged irregularities. The prosecution team is set to present evidence to buttress the claim that the P612.5 million in confidential funds, which the Office of the Vice President (OVP) supposedly disbursed in 2022, was misused. Under Article I of the impeachment complaint, Duterte is accused of grave dishonesty and betrayal of public trust for allegedly misusing the P612.5 million in confidential funds. “The confidential nature of the funds is not an excuse to commit irregularities,” the prosecution stated. According to the complaint, the OVP received P612.5 million in confidential funds in 2022. The impeachment complaint stated that the OVP’s disbursement of the confidential funds was “irregular” and that the funds were allegedly used for purposes not aligned with their intended use. The complaint further alleged that the OVP failed to provide adequate documentation and justification for the disbursement of these funds, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. The impeachment trial in the Senate is expected to be a lengthy process, with both the prosecution and defense presenting their respective cases and evidence. The outcome could have significant political ramifications for Vice President Duterte and the current administration. Information Source: Inquirer NewsInfo