VP Sara says confi fund recipients part of intel operations

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday stated that the names found among the supposed recipients of confidential funds in her office and during her tenure as education secretary were aliases used in intelligence operations.

Asked to comment on the matter, Duterte said she would address the questions during the impeachment trial, as her lawyers are gathering evidence and affidavits from witnesses.

“But let me just say this: I think it is wrong for everyone to pick up as truth or as a fact all the pronouncements of the members of the House of Representatives, particularly with the fictitious names,” Duterte said.

“Because there are rules in intelligence operations, and you already heard some people who work in intelligence say that aliases are often used in intelligence operations,” she added.

The Vice President also noted that her camp will have an intelligence operations expert as a resource person in the trial.

“So let us wait for the trial, and as I said yesterday, if there is no trial, then I will answer it publicly,” Duterte said.

When asked about the Office of the Vice President's plans regarding additional IT equipment and personnel, Duterte referred the answers to Ruth Castello, the new OVP spokesperson.

“It is best since the office of the Vice President already has a spokesperson, and she has been allowed to discuss matters regarding everything about the office. So let's just direct the questions to her when she does her press conference,” Duterte said.

The Vice President has filed a counter-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman in response to allegations of fund misuse.

Among the names that floated were those that resembled grocery items, and some were dubbed as “Team Amoy Asim” such as “Amoy Liu,” “Fernan Amuy,” and “Joug De Asim.”

Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives, has stood firm that there was no misuse of confidential funds in her office. —LDF, GMA Integrated News