Vice President Sara Duterte impeachment trial intensifies over confidential funds
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has intensified as prosecutors and defense attorneys clash over the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Commission on Audit (COA) witnesses, including state auditors Roderick Wamil and Xylene Mae Del Campo, testified regarding findings on these funds. Testimony from former Land Bank branch managers highlighted the "unusual" encashment of four treasury checks worth P125 million each for the OVP between December 2022 and July 2023, as well as three checks worth P37.5 million each for DepEd during the same period.
Wamil identified Gina Acosta (OVP) and Edward Fajarda (DepEd) as the disbursing officers involved, who have been subpoenaed for future testimony. While prosecutors argue the heads of the agencies should be held accountable, the defense has challenged the admissibility and relevance of various evidence.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court recently dismissed petitions challenging the impeachment process, a development described as a turning point in the proceedings. Discussions also continue in the Senate regarding the trial's duration and the constitutional mandate to proceed with the trial.
Entities: Commission on Audit · Department of Education · Office of the Vice President · Sara Duterte · Senate of the Philippines
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Gina Acosta and Edward Fajarda were identified as the disbursing officers for the OVP and DepEd. (Gina Acosta and Edward Fajarda were identified as the disbursing officers for the OVP and DepEd.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment. (The Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Former Land Bank managers testified on unusual treasury check encashments. (Former Land Bank managers testified on unusual treasury check encashments.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Four treasury checks worth P125 million each were encashed for the OVP between December 2022 and July 2023. (Four treasury checks worth P125 million each were encashed for the OVP between December 2022 and July 2023.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] State auditor Roderick Wamil testified regarding the OVP and DepEd confidential funds. (State auditor Roderick Wamil testified regarding the OVP and DepEd confidential funds.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Three treasury checks worth P37.5 million each were encashed for DepEd in 2023. (Three treasury checks worth P37.5 million each were encashed for DepEd in 2023.)