Official of House Panel Handling Confidential Funds Probe Speak on Investigation
HOUSE PANEL – Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua confirmed that they are set to end the investigation on the Confidential Funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
The a committee of the House of Representatives has been investigation the use of the Confidential Funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for several months now. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has attended a few hearings set at the lower chamber.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte decline to attend several House hearings claiming that she attended the first one but she was not asked. However, since her OVP chief-of-staff, Attorney Zuleika Lopez, was detained in the House of Representatives, the Vice President showed a pursuit to be present at the hearing to support her staff members.
Duterte even spent the night at the House of Representatives after the lower chamber declined her request to join Lopez during her detention. However, the OVP Chief-of-Staff fell ill and was confined in the hospital.
Amid Atty. Zuleika Lopez being confined in the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, a staff member of the OVP also fell ill during a House hearing and was also rushed at the hospital. She was also admitted at the VMMC.
Amid the so-called “crisis” in the Office of the Vice President, impeachment complaints were filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. At least two (2) impeachment complaints. The first one was filed by 16 complainants while over 70 signatories filed the second complaint.
Following the filing of impeachment moves against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, the House panel has decided to end the investigation of the Confidential Funds utilization of the offices led by Duterte on Monday. Based on a report on GMA News, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua confirmed the decision of the panel.
According to Chua who is the chairman of the House panel handling the probe on the spending of the Confidential Funds of the OVP and the DepEd, the ending of the investigation will allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct its investigation into the allegations that there were two (2) military officers who allegedly received parts of the CIFs from the OVP.
“Hahayaan na namin ang AFP na mag conduct ng kanilang sariling imbestigasyon pagdating po dito,” he said.
Based on the report, the House panel Chairman admitted that part of the decision to end the probe on the Confidential Funds spending of the OVP and the DepEd is due to the impeachment complaints filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He stressed that the purpose of the probe is in aid of legislation.
“Minarapat po namin na i-wrap up na po ito ng sa ganoon ay hindi na po ito magamit… Ang purpose talaga nitong ginagawa naming imbestigasyon ay in aid of legislation,” Chua said.
Reportedly, if the impeachment complaints filed against Vice Pres. Duterte progressed, the House Committee on Justice will take over the probe. Previously, a House official admitted that there is time constraint for the House to process the Duterte impeachment complaints.