VP’s secret funds:3 more witnesses to be presented

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Audit supervising auditor Xylene Mae del Campo returns to the witness stand today at the Senate impeachment court, as she continues her testimony about the remaining audit of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds not covered by fellow COA auditor Roderick Wamil earlier.

Aside from Del Campo, three additional witnesses expected to be presented by the House prosecution team are Marivic Pareja, director of the House legislative information resources management department; and special disbursing officers (SDOs) Gina Acosta of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Edward Fajarda of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Rep. Terry Ridon said over the weekend that Acosta and Fajarda are deemed as hostile witnesses, being employees and trusted aides of Duterte, who will be forced to testify on how the confidential funds were spent by the two agencies.

Former Surigao del Norte congressman Robert Ace Barbers, adviser and spokesperson for the House impeachment team, said Acosta and Fajarda merely carried out authority delegated by Duterte as head of the two agencies.

“The head of the agency (Duterte) appoints the SDOs – Fajarda and Acosta. To me, they are mere pawns. They just disbursed the funds, and they were given the authority to make sure that the funds are properly used and properly spent on items that are allowable under the Joint Circular.”

For repeatedly failing to liquidate P612.5 million in confidential funds, Duterte cannot pass the blame on her staff, as she herself signed the documents and is thus fully accountable under the principle of command responsibility, Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said.

The OVP received four confidential-fund releases of P125 million each, totaling P500 million, between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2023.

Separate funds totaling P112.5 million were released to DepEd while Duterte served concurrently as education secretary.

Meanwhile, House prosecutors have commended National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional director Jeremy Lotoc, special agent John Mark Calilung of the NBI Cybercrime Division, and COA auditors Wamil and Del Campo for staying true to their mandate of speaking truth amid threats during the impeachment trial of the Vice President.

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