MANILA – House Speaker Martin Romualdez has called on Vice President Sara Duterte to appear before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to explain how confidential funds allocated to her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) were utilized during her tenure as DepEd Secretary.
“Siya lang yata may alam kung anong nangyari diyan sa mga pondo. Kaya dapat siya ang magpaliwanag (She seems to be the only one who knows what happened to the funds, so she must explain),” Romualdez said on Thursday during a visit to Albay for typhoon aid distribution.
Romualdez’s statement comes after several Office of the Vice President (OVP) officials, including Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez, testified that they had no involvement in the release of confidential funds. Other OVP officials echoed similar denials, leaving the Speaker to emphasize that Duterte herself must clarify the matter.
Calls for Accountability
Romualdez urged Duterte to testify under oath, saying she should directly address the concerns instead of delegating the responsibility to subordinates at the OVP and DepEd.
The Vice President attended the initial day of the inquiry but refrained from taking an oath. Instead, she delivered a statement criticizing the proceedings, alleging they were politically motivated to build a case for her impeachment. Duterte also claimed that Romualdez had significant control over budget allocations, a claim he and his allies have denied.
Key Issues Highlighted in the Inquiry
The House panel’s ongoing investigation into the use of confidential funds has unveiled several discrepancies:
- P16 million of the OVP’s P125 million confidential fund in 2022 was reportedly spent on safehouses.
- The DepEd used certifications from military officials to justify fund allocations without obtaining military consent.
- Acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP and DepEd contained incorrect dates, unnamed signatories, or illegible signatures.
Citations and Arrest Orders
Atty. Zuleika Lopez was cited in contempt by the committee on Wednesday for interfering in the probe. She admitted to signing a letter requesting the Commission on Audit not to comply with a House subpoena on OVP and DepEd audit findings.
Several other OVP officials, including Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio and Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta, have also been cited in contempt for repeatedly failing to attend the inquiry. Arrest orders have been issued for them.
Impeachment Prospects
Committee chairperson Rep. Joel Chua acknowledged that impeachment against Duterte is a “reasonable” action but deemed it unlikely due to the proximity of the May 2025 elections.