By el Amigo
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s office continues to conduct programs such as tree planting, Christmas gatherings and road-safety activities despite having no confidential funds, prompting House prosecutors to question why millions of pesos were previously spent on similar activities.
Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Keith Flores raised the issue Wednesday following the testimony of Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Xylene Del Campo during the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
Del Campo earlier presented documents involving activities cited by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to account for its use of confidential funds. Among those listed were tree-planting activities, Christmas celebrations and other community-oriented programs.
Flores pointed out that the same types of activities continue to be carried out by the Vice President even without access to confidential funds.
“Successful naman. Safe naman yung activities,” Flores said during a press briefing. He questioned why millions had to be spent on activities that could still be conducted safely without confidential funding.
The lawmaker said the OVP’s continued programs also cast doubt on claims that confidential funds were essential to ensure Duterte’s security.
Flores particularly cited road-safety initiatives, noting that similar programs are undertaken by other government officials, including regional directors, who do not have confidential funds.
Prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur’s 1st District also challenged the need to use confidential funds for security-related activities that are already within the mandate of government security agencies.
Adiong said police and other agencies tasked with maintaining public safety already have personnel and resources for regular security operations. The OVP, he said, should only provide additional support when necessary instead of duplicating existing government functions.
“You cannot just replicate what they have been doing regularly,” Adiong said.
He cited the Vice President’s attendance at public events, including inaugurations, as situations where regular police operations could provide adequate security.
“If she attends the Davao inauguration, whatever bridge that they want to inaugurate, kayang-kayang ng police work. You don’t need to spend millions for that,” he said.
The prosecution is presenting COA officials as witnesses in the impeachment trial of Duterte. Their testimony forms part of the prosecution’s case concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds allocated to the OVP and the Department of Education.
elamigo/xf
