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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace on VP's plan to answer confidential fund issue: She should've done it earlier

Palace on VP's plan to answer confidential fund issue: She should've done it earlier

Published Aug 12, 2025 03:32 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte should have clearly answered to allegations against her on the use of her confidential funds earlier, Malacañang said.
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte
"Noon pa po dapat niya ginawa. Noon pa lang dapat nalinis na po sa COA (Commission on Audit) pa lang, noong nagkaroon ng AOM (Audit Observation Memorandum), bago pa nagkaroon ng notice of disallowance dapat ay naipaliwanag na nang maayos (She should have done it earlier. It should have been cleared at the COA level, when the AOM was issued, and before the notice of disallowance, it should have been clearly explained)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Castro said this when sought for reaction on Tuesday, Aug. 12, after Duterte conveyed that she will answer to the secret fund allegations in a proper forum.
The Palace official also said that the issue should have not led to impeachment raps against her, had the vice president explained the alleged misuse of funds early on.
"Hindi na darating ito sa impeachment proceedings kung naging maliwanag lamang ang kanyang pag-i-explain lalo na ng kaniyang mga tauhan na mula yata sa accountant hanggang kay Atty. Zuleika Lopez ay walang alam kung papaano nagastos ang confidential funds niya (This would not have reached impeachment proceedings if she had only given a clear explanation, especially  her staff, from the accountant to Atty. Zuleika Lopez, apparently had no idea how her confidential funds were spent)," Castro added.
The Articles of Impeachment against Duterte had been archived by the Senate in a plenary session last week, adhering to the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring the impeachment process initiated by the House of Representatives as unconstitutional.

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Vice President Sara Duterte confidential funds impeachment Claire Castro
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