Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, chair of the House committee on good government and public accountability, has raised the possibility of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of confidential funds within her office. Citing issues of “public trust” and “graft,” Chua pointed to two instances he believes could warrant further investigation.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) reportedly spent P16 million of its 2022 budget on safe houses, an amount questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA) during a recent House inquiry. Lawyer Gloria Camora of COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office confirmed the payments were documented in 34 receipts covering December 21-31, amounting to about P45,000 daily per safe house. “Napakalaki ng presyo,” Chua said, remarking on the high costs of these expenses.
Additionally, Chua noted that the Department of Education (DepEd), under Duterte’s leadership, used P15 million in confidential funds in 2023. Documentation claimed the funds were allocated for informants in the Youth Leadership Summit (YLS), backed by certifications from military officials. However, several soldiers reportedly denied awareness of their certifications being used to justify the expenses. “Unfortunately it was denied by the Army,” Chua stated, suggesting a lack of transparency.
Chua underscored that the potential impeachment hinges on whether Duterte’s office can substantiate the expenditures in question. Should these explanations remain insufficient, Chua confirmed that his committee would deliberate on the possibility of filing an impeachment complaint against her. The next hearing on the issue is expected to resume next week.
