VP Sara Duterte decries plunder, graft raps filing as 'fishing expedition', cover-up for corruption

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday slammed the filing of plunder and graft complaints against her and 15 others as "another fishing expedition" and a cover-up for the corruption and misuse of public funds.

"Another fishing expedition is now being launched, as they scramble to weaponize any accusation they can manufacture just to create a semblance of procedural legitimacy for an investigation," Duterte said in a statement posted on social media.

"Hinihikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at huwag basta magpapadala sa mga paninira. Hindi ito tungkol sa paghahanap ng katotohanan — ito ay tungkol sa pagtakip ng nakawan sa kaban ng bayan na hanggang ngayon ay walang nananagot," she said.

(I urge our countrymen to be discerning and not be swayed by criticisms. This is not about finding the truth — it is about covering up the stealing of public funds for which no one is held accountable yet up to now.)

Plunder and graft complaints were filed Friday against Duterte and 15 other officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) over the alleged misuse of P612.5-million confidential funds.

Aside from plunder and graft, the complaints also alleged malversation and other related complaints against Duterte over her supposed misuse of confidential funds from 2022 to 2023.

They said that despite lengthy and repeated congressional inquiries, the Vice President has refused to explain where her office spent such amounts of public funds.

'Fishing expedition'

Duterte said the filing of charges on Friday was yet another fishing expedition to find grounds to pin her down.

"Mga kababayan (Countrymen), Last year, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability launched a full-blown fishing expedition, searching for anything that could be twisted into grounds for impeachment," she wrote.

"Then came the revelation that signatures for my impeachment were being courted in exchange for budget allocations. Several lawmakers themselves recently confirmed how the constitutional process was being cheapened and reduced to a marketplace," Duterte added.

"Patuloy lamang tayong maging matatag sa harap ng pagbagsak ng ekonomiya at walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Patuloy tayong magdasal para sa kapayapaan," she said.

(Let us continue being strong in the face of the economy's decline and the unrelenting increase in the prices of goods. Let us continue praying for peace.)

"Rest assured that the Office of the Vice President will continue to deliver efficient, accessible, and responsive public service for the good of all Filipinos. Shukran (Thank you)," Duterte said.

Complainant, respondents

Among the complainants who went to the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday were former Finance undersecretary Cielo Magno, 2025 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Father Flavie Villanueva, and Father Robert Reyes.

Also named respondents in the complaints were the Vice President's Chief-of-Staff Zuleika Lopez, OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio, Director Rosalynne Sanchez of the OVP Administrative and Financial Services Office, Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey, OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, former commander of the AFP Security and Protection Group (ASPG) Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, former DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa, OVP Strategy Management Office Director Sunshine Fajarda, former Education Undersecretaries Annalyn Sevilla and Gloria Mercado, DepEd chief accountant Ma. Rhunna Catalan,DepEd Special Disbursement Officer Edward Fajarda, Retired Major General Nolasco Mempin, and Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nolasco.

Malacañang said Friday the plunder and graft complaints filed against Duterte should be investigated properly. —KG, GMA Integrated News