The confidential classification of PHP612.5 million entrusted to Vice President Sara Duterte does not place its handling beyond transparency, scrutiny, and accountability, House of Representatives prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima said Wednesday as she opened the prosecution’s presentation on the confidential funds released through the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
“That the budget is intended for confidential operations does not mean that the conduct of officials involved in the handling of people’s money is exempted from the demands of transparency, scrutiny, and accountability,” De Lima said in her opening manifestation.
She introduced the issue through the familiar experience of families carefully deciding where to place limited household resources.
“Sa ating pagba-budget para sa pamilya – dahil hindi naman unli ang pera – masinop ang ating paggasta. Sa talagang kailangan at kapaki-pakinabang natin nilalaan. Ganyan din dapat sa pera ng bayan (In budgeting for the family – because money is not unlimited – spending is prudent. We allocate it only for necessities and useful things. That should also be the case for public funds),” she said.
The House prosecutor defined confidential funds as allocations intended for sensitive and surveillance-related activities supporting the mandates of civilian agencies.
De Lima maintained that the public-trust principle applies regardless of the classification attached to an appropriation.
“Public office is a public trust. Iyan ang sabi ng Konstitusyon (That’s what the Constitution says),” she said.
“Sakop nito ang lahat ng nasa gobyerno. At ang utos na iyan ay hindi pwedeng balewalain dahil lang sa ‘confidential’ ang pondo (It applies to everyone in government. That directive should not be set aside just because the fund is ‘confidential’).”
De Lima clarified that confidentiality exists to protect legitimate operations and informants, rather than to shield fabricated records or the diversion of public funds.
“Hindi ito palusot para ibulsa ang pera. Kung ‘confidential’ ang pondo, lalo pa ngang mataas ang pananagutang kaakibat dito (This is not an excuse to pocket the funds. If the fund is ‘confidential,’ there should be higher accountability),” she said.
She told the senator-judges that the Constitution had placed on the impeachment court the responsibility of determining whether Duterte committed offenses warranting removal from office.
“The Constitution entrusts this Court with the solemn duty to determine whether the respondent Vice President committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The evidence will show that she did,” De Lima asserted.
“This case is about PHP612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to VP Sara Duterte, through the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.” (PNA)