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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara files counter-affidavit at Ombudsman

VP Sara files counter-affidavit at Ombudsman

Published Jun 27, 2025 05:07 pm

At A Glance

  • Her lawyers, Michael Poa and Paul Lim, filed the counter-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman around 1 p.m. on Friday, June 27, days ahead of the June 30 deadline.
Vice President Sara Duterte has formally responded to the charges recommended by the House of Representatives regarding her alleged misuse of confidential funds.
Lawyers Michael Poa and Paul Lim, counsel of Vice President Sara Duterte, file her counter-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman on June 27, 2025.
Lawyers Michael Poa and Paul Lim, counsel of Vice President Sara Duterte, file her counter-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman on June 27, 2025.
Her lawyers, Michael Poa and Paul Lim, filed the counter-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman around 1 p.m. on Friday, June 27, days ahead of the June 30 deadline.
Duterte’s defense team has yet to release further details or comment on the filing.
The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, chaired by Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua, earlier recommended the filing of multiple charges against Duterte, including technical malversation, falsification of public documents, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, plunder, and betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Aside from the Vice President, several other officials were named as respondents. These include Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel Sunshine Fajarda, Edward Fajarda, Annalyn Sevilla, Nolasco Mempin, and Col. Raymund Lachica, who heads Duterte’s security group.
The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier ordered all respondents to submit their counter-affidavits, affidavits of their witnesses, and other supporting documents within 10 days of receiving the order.
“Failure to file [a] counter-affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as [a] waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” the Ombudsman stated.

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Vice President Sara Duterte Sara Duterte Ombudsman
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