House Panel Ends Probe into VP Sara Duterte's ₱612M Confidential Fund Use Amid Impeachment Proceedings
The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has officially terminated its investigation into the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte's offices, including the Department of Education (DepEd).
The decision followed a unanimous vote adopting the motion presented by Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano. Committee Chairperson Joel Chua indicated that while the investigation has concluded, the committee's report is expected to be released in the coming week.
Prior to the termination, panel members had raised serious allegations against the Vice President and certain officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd. These included potential charges of plunder, technical malversation of public funds, falsification of public documents, and perjury. Concerns were heightened by the submission of acknowledgment receipts with discrepancies such as incorrect dates, signatories lacking birth records, and illegible names, all intended to liquidate the disbursed confidential funds to the Commission on Audit (COA).
Representative Gerville Luistro also highlighted allegations of bribery and corruption, citing witness testimonies that accused Duterte of distributing money to DepEd officials, which was reportedly accepted. Despite these serious claims, it remains uncertain whether they will be included in the forthcoming committee report.
This development occurs amidst ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte. In February 2025, the House of Representatives voted to impeach her on multiple charges, including misuse of confidential funds, plotting to assassinate President Marcos, involvement in extrajudicial killings, and incitement to insurrection. The impeachment trial is pending in the Senate.
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