House impeachment trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Tuesday said, Filipinos were allegedly “budol” after confidential funds entrusted to Vice President Sara Duterte were used for transactions that purportedly failed to comply with government rules.
Adiong said the funds could have enabled the Office of the Vice President to become a meaningful partner in the government’s efforts to combat terrorism and lawless elements.
“Kasi kami nabudol e, taong-bayan ang nabudol e, ipinagkatiwala sa kanya itong confidential funds. For the first time in Philippine history that a Vice President would intervene or would engage the office in fighting lawless elements in our streets,” Alonto Adiong said.
His remarks came after Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office state auditor Roderick Wamil testified before the Senate Impeachment Court on Monday that the OVP classified P40 million in medical and food assistance as confidential expenses despite such expenditures allegedly not being allowed under Joint Circular No. 2015-01.
Wamil also testified that the OVP failed to submit the required supporting documents for reported rewards to informers.
He further testified that the OVP reported P10 million in confidential fund spending for “incentives or traveling expenses” without presenting documentary proof for the disbursement.
During Monday’s impeachment trial as the House prosecution also presented acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP to liquidate its confidential funds, revealing 10 additional names aside from the controversial “Mary Grace Piattos.”
The names presented before the impeachment court were Renan Piattos, Nova Santos, Mico P. Harina, Janice Marie Revilla, Patty Ting, Andy Lim, Alejandro Pikit, Feonna Biong, Sisfrunio Balsac and Gabriel Bisaya.
Article I of the impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of misusing, misappropriating and irregularly liquidating P500 million in confidential funds allocated to and the P112.5 million released through the Department of Education.
Adiong said the allocation of confidential funds to the OVP was unprecedented and could have strengthened the government’s security efforts if properly implemented.
“This was the first time. Maganda sana itong panimula kung maayos na-implementa ang confidential funds,” Alonto Adiong said.
He added that the allocation gave the OVP an opportunity to support agencies directly tasked with safeguarding national security and maintaining peace and order.
“Unfortunately, the opposite has spoken the what happened. It’s the opposite that actually we saw na ang ICFAO lumabas sila ng mga ganitong klaseng reports,” Alonto Adiong explained.
The prosecution cited audit findings involving questionable acknowledgment receipts, unsupported purchases and expenses that allegedly fell outside the exclusive purposes allowed under Joint Circular No. 2015-01.
Alonto Adiong maintained that the confidential funds were not used to advance the government’s security objective.
“But unfortunately, when she was entrusted with these funds she did not make use of it in order to pursue the agenda of fighting corruption. But dun po napunta kina Mico Harina,” Alonto Adiong maintained.
“Duon napunta kay Mary Grace Piattos. Doon napunta sa pagbibigay rewards sa mga chairs and tables,” he added.
“Doon napunta sa pagbibigay reward sa medisina na klaro na labag sa Joint Circular ng COA,” Alonto Adiong stressed.