MANILA, Philippines – Hindi bahagi ng mandato ng Office of the Vice President at bilang kalihim ng Department of Education ang confidential operations, ayon kay prosecution witness Xylene del Campo ng Commission on Audit – Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO) nitong Miyerkules, Agosto 12.
Ito ang testimonya ni Del Campo sa ika-15 araw ng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte nang tanungin ni private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan kung ang confidential operations ay bahagi ng mandato ng OVP o bilang DepEd secretary.
Tinukoy ni Kapunan ang impormasyon sa website ng OVP na nagsasabing “the Office of the Vice President performs executive, ceremonial, and social services functions, collaborating with stakeholders and organizations in both the public and private sectors, to develop and promote programs that uplift the lives of the Filipino people.”
“Based po doon sa nakalagay sa mandato nila hindi po,” ani Del Campo.
Tinanong din ni Kapunan kung ang pagsasagawa ng confidential operations ay bahagi pa ng mandato nito bilang Education chief.
“The DepEd Secretary is in charge of basic, elementary, and secondary education. That’s the function. Kasama ba sa mandato ng isang secretary of the Department of Education ang confidential activities.”
“Kung based po sa mandato po nila, hindi po,” tugon naman ni Del Campo.
Samantala, sinabi rin ni Del Campo na ang tree planting, Christmas parties at pagbibigay ng social services ay hindi maaaring bayaran o i-reimburse gamit ang confidential fund batay sa
Joint Circular 2015-01 sa paggamit ng confidential at intelligence funds.
Ang tinutukoy ni Del Campo ay ang mga ginawa ng OVP mula Disyembre 13 hanggang 18, 2022 na tree planting, Christmas parties at activities, wheelchair distribution, at iba pa para i-liquidate ang 2022 confidential fund expenses.
Sa kabila nito, natanggap lamang ng OVP ang P125 milyong confidential fund allocation para sa 2022 noong Disyembre 21, 2022 o matapos isagawa ang Decemebr 13 to 18 activities.
“Under the allowable expenses of [Section] 4.8 enumeration of the Joint Circular, hindi po ito kasama,” ani del Campo.
Ang tinutukoy naman niya ay ang Section 4.8 ng Joint Circular na nagsasabing ang confidential fund ay maaari lamang gamitin sa mga sumusunod:
purchase of information necessary for the formulation and implementation of program, activities and projects relevant to the national security and peace and order;
rental of transport vehicle related to confidential activities;
rentals and the incidental expenses related to the maintenance of safehouses;
purchase or rental of supplies, materials and equipment for confidential operations that cannot be done through regular procedures without compromising the information gathering activity concerned;
payment of rewards to informers supported with documents evidencing the success of the information gathering and/or surveillance activities on
account of the information given by the informer and
to uncover/prevent illegal activities that pose a clear and present danger to agency personnel/property, or other facilities and resources under the agency protection, done in coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agencies
Sinabi rin ni Del Campo na sa probisyon ng Joint Circular na nagbabawal sa paggamit ng confidential fund bilang reimbursement, sinasabing: “In no case shall cash advance for confidential or intelligence be utilized as reimbursement of the expenses prior to the granting of cash advance.”
“Hindi po siya chargeable sa confidential fund po,” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC
