Sara Duterte trial recap, Aug. 4: Safehouses, signatures, censored S word

MANILA, Philippines — The trial concerning the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has seen former state auditor Roderick Wamil testify, raising suspicions of fund misuse. The prosecution alleges that the OVP spent P125 million in confidential funds in just 11 days in 2022, with insufficient supporting documents and for non-confidential expenses such as medical and travel assistance. Wamil stated that both the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) reported tens of millions of pesos in confidential fund spending without attaching adequate supporting documents to justify the expenses. Furthermore, Vice President Sara Duterte's signature was found on nearly all related documents as having approved or certified them. The defense, however, managed to elicit from Wamil that there are no rules prohibiting the use of a quarterly cash advance within 60 days. Wamil clarified that the 11-day expenditure was mentioned only as a fact in the audit observation memorandum and not as a definitive misuse in the auditor's findings. The prosecution highlighted that the OVP allegedly spent P16 million on renting "safe houses" within those 11 days. They further argued that non-confidential expenses, including medical aid, food assistance, and travel expenses, were charged against the confidential funds. Wamil testified that neither the OVP nor DepEd specified the intended use of the confidential funds, nor did they present the physical and financial plans required by the joint circular, which outlines confidential activities. Conversely, the defense cited a 1992 COA circular, suggesting that requiring receipts for safe house rentals, meals, and supplies could risk information leaks and endanger agents. However, the prosecution countered that the 2015 circular superseded this. During the trial, it was confirmed that Vice President Duterte's signature appeared on numerous documents. Nevertheless, in a 2024 press conference, VP Duterte denied any involvement in the preparation of acknowledgment receipts for her office's confidential expenses. Source: Philstar Nation