Romualdez to Duterte: Explain confidential fund spending
Metro Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should explain the spending of her controversial confidential fund before a House panel inquiry, Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Thursday, Nov. 21.
The House committee on good government and public accountability is investigating, in aid of legislation, the alleged mismanagement of the P612.5-million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), of which Duterte was chief.
In a chance interview in Albay, Romualdez said Duterte should attend the hearings and shed light on the issue.
“Dapat lang siya sumipot at mag-oath at magsalita at mag-eksplika,” he said.
[Translation: She should just show up, take her oath, talk, and explain.]
“Siya lang yata may alam kung anong nangyayari diyan sa mga pondo kaya dapat siya na lang mag-eksplika. 'Wag na niya ibigay sa mga officials ng OVP at sa DepEd,” the speaker added.
[Translation: Maybe only she knows what happened with the funds, that's why she should explain herself. She should not pass it to her officials at the OVP and DepEd.]
NewsWatch Plus reached out to the OVP for a comment.
Duterte only attended the first hearing of the panel, chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua.
Uncovered during the probe were the practice of handing to employees envelopes with cash for an unknown purpose, acknowledgement receipts with questionable names and details, and the 11-day P16-million spending for safehouses.
READ: Ex-DepEd official bares extra money; Duterte bucks claim
OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez has been detained at the House premises for “undue interference.” Four other officials were ordered arrested.
The next panel hearing is set for Nov. 25.