VP Sara Duterte Ordered by Ombudsman To Respond over House Recommendation
The Ombudsman started its preliminary investigation on the alleged misuse of the Confidential Funds of Vice President Sara Duterte and nine other officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is currently faced with a lot of issues. She remains questioned about the controversial spending of the Confidential Funds of the Office of the Vice President as well as the Department of Educations’ when she was the DepEd secretary. Last February 5, amid the issues, the Vice President was impeached by the House of Representatives.
The House conducted a series of investigations on the alleged misuse of Duterte’s confidential funds. However, she snubbed most of the invitations of the lower chamber for hearings. The impeachment was transmitted to the Senate.
However, after the presiding officer and the senator judges took their oath, the Senate impeachment court ruled to remand the Articles of Impeachment. Meanwhile, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero explained that the return of Duterte’s impeachment to the House does not equate to the dismissal of the impeachment case.
The House of Representatives maintained that they followed the laws in the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Aside from impeaching the Vice President, they also recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of charges against the Vice President over her alleged misuse of the Confidential Funds.
Based on a report on PhilStar, the House of Representatives recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of plunder, technical malversation, bribery, and corruption charges against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and nine (9) other officials of the OVP and DepEd. The accused include the following:
- OVP chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez
- DepEd special disbursing officer Gina Acosta
- DepEd special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda
- DepEd assistant secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda, director for Strategic Management Office
- retired Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, undersecretary for Administration
- Annalyn Sevilla, undersecretary for Finance Service
- assistant secretary and assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio
- Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Dante Lachia of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group
The Ombudsman has started its preliminary investigation on the alleged misuse of the Confidential Funds of the offices that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has led. Recently, it released an order to Duterte and nine (9) other officials to respond their counter-affidavits within 10 days.
“Failure to file counter-affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” the order of the Ombudsman reads.
Based on the report, assistant ombudsman Nellie Boguen-Golez signed the order to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and 9 other officials of OVP and DepEd. The Office of the Vice President has confirmed that they received the order to respond to the complaints of the House.
On the impeachment trial, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero maintained that the impeachment court’s power has no limitations amid the questions on remanding the Articles of Impeachment. He stressed that both the House and the Vice President must respect the decision of the Senate impeachment court.