Prosecution ‘anticipates’ Ombudsman to file cases vs. VP Sara over confidential funds

MANILA — The House prosecution panel expects the Office of the Ombudsman to file criminal cases against Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

This, after the agency announced that it has begun evaluating the evidence, said House prosecution trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur.

Alonto Adiong said the evidence-gathering involves the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), where Duterte previously served as secretary.

“I anticipate that there will be a case that will be filed by the Ombudsman in relation to the confidential funds misuse of the VP, and as well as when she was still serving as the DepEd Secretary,” Alonto Adiong said on Sunday in a radio interview.

He explained that the alleged misuse of confidential funds was not merely an issue of misappropriation but also involved the possible squandering of public money, which completely warrants a separate investigation from the impeachment trial that is only capable of removing impeachable officers from office.

Alonto Adiong cited the Commission on Audit’s (COA) final decision on the P73 million in confidential funds, which upheld the disallowance and required the return of the funds after rejecting the OVP’s appeal.

He added that if the Ombudsman pursues a criminal case, it would indicate that it had assessed the evidence as sufficient to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt before the Sandiganbayan.

“Hindi gagawin ng Ombudsman ‘yan without even realizing na talagang the quantum of evidence when you file a criminal charge is beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

But he clarified that the Ombudsman’s investigation should not be taken as a sign that the allegations were too weak to pursue in the impeachment trial.

“I think it’s the opposite kasi hindi naman nagfa-file ang Ombudsman, or any other investigative agencies for that matter, like the DOJ, na alam naman nilang mataas ‘yung requirement for beyond reasonable doubt, yung quantum of evidence na sinasabi ay hindi nila gagawin basta-basta,” he said.

Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds includes improper disbursement and reporting, hundreds of acknowledgment receipts bearing unofficial names, and records showing that security officers, and not the designated disbursing officer, released the funds.