ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (left),  Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Vice President Sara Duterte's misuse of millions worth of confidential funds in December 2022 is a ground for impeachment. 

Thus, said House Assistant Minority Leader ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro In a statement Friday, Aug. 30, even as she blasted the second highest-ranked official of the land for her demeanor in the recent budget hearing of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). 

"Di naman pwedeng gagawa ng kalokohan tapos pababayaan na lang, dapat may accountability (You can't commit shenanigans and then get away with it, there should be accountability)," Castro said. 

"Her misuse of Confidential Funds is an impeachable offense," she added. 

“Sa paglulustay ng confidential funds, sa panahong kulang na kulang ang pondo para sa serbisyong publiko, at sa pagtangging ipaliwanag ito sa taumbayan, malinaw na may batayan ang impeachment,” underscored the Makabayan solon, who traded barbs with the generally uncooperative Vice President Duterte during the budget hearing Tuesday, Aug. 27. 

(There's clearly a ground for impeachment due to the misspending of confidential funds, during a great need of funds for public service; and the refusal to explain it to the people.)

Castro brought up during the budget hearing the Commission on Audit's (COA) Notice of Disallowance, which demanded the return of P73 million out of the P125 million spent by the OVP within a mere 11 days in December 2022. 

Castro revealed that Vice President Duterte claimed to have spent the P125 million in 11 days to conduct "surveillance" in 132 areas. 

According to the Accomplishment Report submitted by the OVP to COA and obtained by the House through a subpoena, the amount spent was broken down as follows: 

Purchase of Information - P14 million

Payment of Reward - P10 million

Rental of Other Incidental Expenses relative to the Maintenance of safe Houses - P16 million

Provision of Medical and Food Aid - P35 million

Payment of Incentives or Travelling relative to the Confidential Information - P10 million 

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The Makabayan congresswoman said COA flagged the following expenditures: 

Reward Payment - P10 million

Payment of Reward (Various Goods) - P34.857 million

Payment of Reward (Medicines) - P24.930 million

Payment for tables, chairs, desktop computers, and printers - P3.5 million 

Castro noted that COA disallowed the three types of rewards (cash, goods, and medicines) because Duterte failed to show proof of the success of the surveillance operations that would merit such payment. Similarly,  the purchase of furniture and office equipment was disallowed because of Duterte's failure to show that these were intended for the surveillance operations that were undertaken. 

She pointed out the significance of COA's finding that these purchases did not comply with Joint Circular No. 2015-01. 

"It's becoming apparent that Duterte was banking on the supposed veil of secrecy around Confidential Funds to hide her unlawful use of people's money. This is a clear betrayal of public trust," added Castro. 

“We in the Makabayan bloc stand by our call that confidential funds should be abolished because these secret discretionary funds are really prone to corruption.” 

Castro went on to criticize the Vice President for her refusal to answer question during the budget briefing. 

"Her stonewalling on legitimate questions from members of the House regarding her use of public funds showed utter disrespect for the basic principles of check-and-balance, transparency, and accountability of public officials entrusted with the people's money, all of which are enshrined in the Constitution that she swore to uphold."