Sara Duterte's office receives Ombudsman order on confi funds raps

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Friday confirmed receipt of the order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the alleged misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte and nine other officials.

The OVP said it received the order at about 9 a.m. Friday, June 20. 

The Ombudsman has given Duterte and the other respondents ten days from receipt of the order to file their counter-affidavits "together with the affidavit/s of their witness/es, and other supporting documents."

The order, which was issued Thursday, came after the House of Representatives filed a complaint against Duterte and several others for plunder, technical malversation, falsification, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution, a source told GMA Integrated News.

The complaint stemmed from the recommendation of the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability to file charges against Duterte for the alleged misuse of P500 million in confidential funds of the OVP, and P112.5 million in confidential funds of DepEd from 2022 to 2024.

Earlier on Friday, the OVP said Duterte would be traveling to Australia for a personal trip and to join a June 22 protest action in Melbourne calling for the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aside from Duterte, the other respondents in the Ombudsman's order are:

OVP

• Atty. Zuleika Lopez, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff
• Lemuel Ortonio, Assistant Secretary 
• Assistant Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nolasco, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group
• Colonel Raymund Dante Lachia, Commander, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, Philippine Army

DepEd

• Edward Fajarda, Special Disbursing Officer 
• Gina Acosta, Special Disbursing Officer 
• Assistant Secretary Atty. Sunshine Charry Fajarda, Director for Strategic Management Office
• Retired Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Undersecretary for Administration 
• Annalyn Sevilla, Undersecretary for Finance Service

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. 

The seven articles of impeachment against Duterte included allegations of malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents; and bribery and corruption in the DepEd during her tenure as Education secretary, involving former DepEd officials. 

The Vice President has denied the allegations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News