Malacañang said on Tuesday that the decision to investigate Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds now lies with the Office of the Ombudsman.
“It’s in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in an ABS-CBN News report.
This follows the filing of a letter by Akbayan Party and the progressive coalition Tindig Pilipinas urging the Ombudsman to act on what they described as possible abuse of power in the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) use of confidential funds.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that his office had received the letter and would review its contents. He clarified that while impeachable officials like the vice president may still face criminal charges, they cannot be removed from office by the Ombudsman.
The OVP has not yet issued a statement in response to the development. Duterte has previously denied any misuse of confidential funds.
