House panel to wrap up probe into VP Sara's confi funds, eyes reform
After holding seven hearings, the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability will introduce sweeping reforms in the use of confidential funds as it wraps up its investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged P612.5-million confidential fund misuse.
The said funds were allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the good governance panel, announced this on Sunday, December 8, saying panel members will meet on Monday to finalize the probe on confidential funds.
This as House lawmakers prepare for a possible impeachment process against the vice president which is expected to address the same allegations before the House Committee on Justice.
With two impeachment complaints already filed against her, Chua said the committee may cease its own probe on the matter to pave way for the hearing on the impeachment cases.
The lawmaker said the committee has already fulfilled its mandate of investigating the confidential funds in aid of legislation, with several recommendations ready for submission this coming week.
Chua said an impeachment process is the proper venue for Duterte to address the complaints and allegations on her confidential funds.
“Nevertheless, ito naman kasi saka-sakaling tutuloy ang impeachment process ay hahayaan na namin na sa impeachment na sagutin ang mga katanungan sa ating Bise Presidente (just in case there is a possible impeachment process, we will allow the vice president to answer the questions regarding the budget during the impeachment,” Chua said in an interview over Radio DZBB on Sunday, December 8.
Chua also said that one of the panel’s recommendation is to cancel the confidentiality of the nature of funds once the given confidential fund is given a Notice of Disallowance so that authorities, especially legislators, can review and scrutinize it better.