MANILA, Philippines – Nabulgar sa impeachment trial na illegal na nilustay ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang P73 milyong confidential funds sa tree planting, pamamahagi ng wheelchair at Christmas party ng Office of the Vice President na nakalista sa aktibidad ng opisyal sa CF utilization mula December 2022.
Sa kanyang testimonya sa impeachment court, sinabi ni Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Xylene Mae del Campo na inilista ni Duterte ang ginastusan ng confidential funds tulad ng tree-planting activities, wheelchair distribution at Christmas party na hindi pinapayagan sa ilalim ng joint circular na itinakdang alituntunin sa paggamit ng CF.
Ipinagpatuloy nitong Martes ni private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan ang kanyang cross-examination kay del Campo, hinggil sa aktibidad ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) na nakalista sa liquidation reports ng CF utilization sa December 2022.
Ayon kay Del Campo, hindi pinapayagan ang paggamit ng CF sa aktibidad tulad ng Christmas parties at tree-planting activities sa Joint Circular No. 2015-01.
Nang ipabasa ni Kapunan kay del Campo ang aktibidad na nakalista sa OVP, sinabi nito na “Under December 13, 2022, Department of Education — 2022 Partners Appreciation Night in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.”
“Wait, appreciation night? Based on your understanding, is this item a confidential activity or is it part of the confidential activities under the joint circular?” Kapunan asked.
“Based on the enumeration of where confidential funds should be used, this is not included,” tugon ni del Campo.
Ipinagpatuloy naman ni Del Campo ang pagbabasa ng aktibidad ng OVP na nakalista bilang confidential expenses, kabilang ang :
1. December 15, 2022, Knights of Rizal Supreme Council, 60th Year of the Institute in Baguio City, Youth Campaign on Patriotism
2. December 17, 2022, Christmas activity in Happyland, Tondo, Manila
3. December 17, 2022, Christmas activity and exploration meeting of extension office, Barangay 101 in Tondo, Manila
4. December 17, 2022, consultation with barangay chairmen ng Manila in Manila
5. December 17, 2022, Pasasalamat and update meeting TODA in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City
6. December 17, 2022, Pasasalamat and consultation meeting with TNVS, Angkas, and Food Delivery in Quezon City
7. December 17, 2022, Pasasalamat and update meeting with PWD sector in Quezon City
“Some of the activities here include thanksgiving events, coordination meetings, tree-planting activities, wheelchair distribution, gift-giving, medical missions, and other activities of the [OVP] satellite offices,” ayon kay del Campo.
Sinabi ng COA audito na wala sa naturang aktibidad sa ilang pinapayagang gamitin ng CF sa ilalim ng Joint Circular No. 2015-01, bilang secret funds na dapat inilaan o ginastos sa confidential activities.
Tanong ni Kapunan, “In the joint circular you mentioned, can you remind us, what is the definition and purpose of confidential funds?”
“Confidential funds are the lump sum amount under the General Appropriations Act that should be used for confidential activities of an agency,” tugon ni del Campo.
“And these activities you read — tree-planting, many Christmas parties, several awards ceremonies — are these allowed under the definition of confidential funds that you mentioned?” tanong ng abogado.
“No,” ayon kay del Campo.
Ayon kay del Campo, binanggit ng 4.8 ng Joint Circular No. 2015-01 ang ilang bagay. Sa ilalim ng probisyon na ito, maaaring gamitin ang CF sa mga sumusunod na kadahilanan:
1. Purchase of information necessary for the formulation and implementation of programs, activities and projects relevant to national security and peace and order
2. Rental of transport vehicles related to confidential activities
3. Rentals and incidental expenses related to the maintenance of safehouses
4. 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
5. Payment of rewards to informers (non-employees of the concerned government agency), subject to the following conditions
6. Uncovering/preventing illegal activities that pose a clear and present danger to agency personnel/property or other facilities and resources under the agency’s protection, done in coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agencies
7. Others that may be authorized by the GAA or other special laws
8. Del Campo is the fourth witness presented by the prosecution for Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which deals with allegations that Duterte misused CFs allocated to her offices from December 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.
Binanggit din ng auditor na pinababalik kay Duterte alinsunod sa ipinalabas ng Notice of Disallowance sa halagang P73 milyon na confidential funds expenditures na pinagtibay ng COA en banc. Ernie Reyes
